online

[on-lahyn, awn-] /ˈɒnˈlaɪn, ˈɔn-/
adjective
1.
operating under the direct control of, or connected to, a main computer.
2.
connected by computer to one or more other computers or networks, as through a commercial electronic information service or the Internet.
3.
of or denoting a business that transmits electronic information over telecommunications lines:
an online bookstore.
4.
available or operating on a computer or computer network:
an online dictionary.
5.
by means of or using a computer:
online shopping.
6.
Radio. (of a network) supplying affiliated stations with all or a substantial part of their programming.
7.
Television. of or pertaining to the final editing of a videotaped program.
8.
done or accomplished while in operation or active service:
online maintenance.
9.
located on major routes or rail lines:
online industries.
adverb
10.
with or through a computer, especially over a network.
Also, on-line, on line.
Compare offline.
Origin
1945-50
Examples from the web for online
  • online college courses have proliferated, and so have financial aid scams.
  • Many faculty members say it takes more time to develop and teach online courses than traditional ones.
  • Vote now and help our online audience pick the best pIt's your turn.
  • The author asked some of his acquaintances for permission to break into their online banking accounts.
  • Whether for career development or their own edification, the culinarily curious can gorge on all kinds of food knowledge online.
  • People get married, divorced and die because of relationships that develop online.
  • Both nonprofit and for-profit colleges profit, usually handsomely, from providing online courses.
  • online retailers use a variety of incentives to goose holiday traffic, including coupon codes, newsletters and free shipping.
  • It was promoted as the next big thing in online shopping.
  • In some circles, online education has a bad reputation.
British Dictionary definitions for online

online

/ˈɒnˌlaɪn/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or concerned with a peripheral device that is directly connected to and controlled by the central processing unit of a computer
2.
of or relating to the internet: online shopping
3.
occurring as part of, or involving, a continuous sequence of operations, such as a production line
adverb
4.
while connected to a computer or the internet
See offline
Word Origin and History for online
adj.

in reference to computers, "directly connected to a peripheral device," 1950 (originally as on-line).

online in Science
online
  (ŏn'līn')   
Connected to or accessible by means of a computer or computer network.
online in Culture

online definition


A term referring to locations on or use of the Internet. The term can be used to refer to a specific location or Web page (“Our sales catalogues can be found online at — ”) or to a personal activity (“I went online to find the information you wanted.”)