coastline
gb/kˈoʊstlˌaɪn/ us/kˈoʊstlˌaɪn/
B2
English
partvonal, tengerpart, partvidék, partvonal hossza
NOUN
B2
1
partvonal
B2
Usage pattern:
the coastline (of) [place]
We followed the coastline south until we reached the lighthouse.
Dél felé követtük a partvonalat, amíg el nem értük a világítótornyot.
The storm damaged homes all along the coastline.
A vihar az egész partvonal mentén megrongálta a házakat.
From the plane you could see the coastline clearly.
Learner examples
The coastline is beautiful here.
Itt gyönyörű a partvonal.
We walked along the coastline.
A partvonal mentén sétáltunk.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse coastline with cost (price); coastline relates to the sea.
Meaning
line where land meets sea
Collocations
along the coastline
|off the coastline
|the entire coastline
|a rugged coastline
|a jagged coastline
|the coastline of [country]
|coastline communities
|coastline road
|mapped coastline
|near the coastline
Synonyms
shoreline (Often focuses on the exact water’s edge.)
|
coast (More general; can mean the whole coastal area, not just the edge.)
Antonyms
inland (Away from the sea and the coastal edge.)
Themes
geography
|nature
|travel
|environment
Definition
the place where land meets the sea
The line or edge where the land meets the sea or ocean.
NOUN
B2
2
tengerpart
A2
partvidék
B2
Usage pattern:
the coastline (of) [place] + verb (e.g., attracts, suffers, is busy)
The coastline is popular with surfers in the summer.
Nyáron a tengerpart népszerű a szörfösök körében.
Small towns along the coastline rely heavily on fishing.
A tengerparti kisvárosok nagyban a halászatból élnek.
Wildfires can spread quickly in the dry forests near the coastline.
Learner examples
Many people visit the coastline in summer.
Nyáron sokan felkeresik a tengerpartot.
Common mistake:
Coastline can mean the coastal area in general, but coast is often more natural in everyday speech.
Meaning
coastal region as a whole
Collocations
live on the coastline
|tourists flock to the coastline
|busy coastline
|remote coastline
|develop the coastline
|protect the coastline
|coastline towns
|coastline resorts
|coastline economy
|coastline habitats
Synonyms
coastal area (Clearer about meaning ‘region’ rather than the exact edge.)
|
seaboard (Often used for a large region (e.g., the East Coast seaboard).)
Antonyms
hinterland (The interior region away from the coast.)
Themes
geography
|travel
|daily_life
|environment
Definition
the area near the sea
The land area near the sea considered as a region, especially when talked about as a place people live, travel, or do business.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
[place] has a (long/short) coastline of [number] (kilometres/miles)
Canada has one of the longest coastlines in the world.
Kanada partvonalának hossza a világ egyik leghosszabbja.
The report compares each country’s coastline length.
A jelentés összehasonlítja az egyes országok partvonalának hosszát.
Because of its many islands, the coastline is much longer than you might expect.
Learner examples
Norway has a long coastline.
Norvégiának hosszú a partvonala.
Common mistake:
In this meaning, coastline is about length (a number), not a line you can draw on a map.
Meaning
total length of a coast
Collocations
a long coastline
|a short coastline
|a coastline of [number] kilometres
|measure the coastline
|total coastline
|the country’s coastline
|coastline length
|estimate coastline length
|recorded coastline
|official coastline figure
Synonyms
coastal length (More descriptive; less common as a set term.)
Antonyms
landlocked (Having no coastline at all.)
Themes
geography
|numbers
|environment
Definition
the measured length of the coast
The total distance around the land’s edge next to the sea, especially as a figure used to compare places.
Grammar
Dictionary form
coastline
IPA
GB/kˈoʊstlˌaɪn/
US/kˈoʊstlˌaɪn/
Syllables & stress
coast - line (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (coast)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: coastline
- Plural: coastlines
Word family
Expressions
a stretch of coastline
1/ə stɹˈɛt͡ʃ əv kˈoʊstlˌaɪn/
fixed phrase
a section of the coast
one part of the coastline
Examples
- They built a new walking path along a stretch of coastline near the town.
- The oil spill affected a long stretch of coastline.
- This stretch of coastline is known for its cliffs.
Learner examples
- We visited a quiet stretch of coastline.
along the coastline
1/əlˈɔŋ ðə kˈoʊstlˌaɪn/
fixed phrase
following the coast
next to the sea, following the coast
Examples
- We drove along the coastline and stopped at small fishing villages.
- There are many protected areas along the coastline.
- Strong winds are common along the coastline in winter.
Learner examples
- We walked along the coastline.
coastline erosion
1/kˈoʊstlˌaɪn ɪɹˈoʊʒən/
fixed phrase
coast worn away by sea
when the sea slowly removes land from the coast
Examples
- Coastline erosion has forced several families to move inland.
- The council installed barriers to slow coastline erosion.
- Scientists are monitoring coastline erosion after repeated storms.
Learner examples
- Coastline erosion is a problem here.
coastline management
1/kˈoʊstlˌaɪn mˈænɪd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
planning how a coast is used
planning how to look after the coast
Examples
- The region adopted a new coastline management plan after severe flooding.
- Good coastline management balances tourism with habitat protection.
- Coastline management decisions can affect property prices.
coastline protection
1/kˈoʊstlˌaɪn pɹətˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
defending the coast from damage
actions to protect the coast
Examples
- The new budget includes funding for coastline protection.
- Coastline protection is controversial when it affects public beaches.
- They used sand dunes as a natural form of coastline protection.
Learner examples
- The town needs coastline protection.
coastline retreat
1/kˈoʊstlˌaɪn ɹitɹˈit/
fixed phrase
technical
shoreline moving inland
when the coastline slowly moves inland
Examples
- Coastline retreat has accelerated in the past decade.
- The study links coastline retreat to rising sea levels.
- Some communities are planning for managed coastline retreat.