redline

[v. red-lahyn; n. red-lahyn] /v. ˈrɛdˌlaɪn; n. ˈrɛdˈlaɪn/
verb (used with object), redlined, redlining.
1.
to treat by redlining (an area or neighborhood).
2.
to establish the recommended safe speed of (an airplane):
The bomber is redlined at 650 miles an hour.
3.
to draw a canceling red line through (an item on a list).
4.
to mark or designate for cancellation, rejection, dismissal, or the like:
club members redlined for unpaid dues.
5.
to cause (an airplane) to be grounded.
verb (used without object), redlined, redlining.
6.
to engage in redlining.
noun
7.
Automotive.
  1. the maximum rotational speed, or angular velocity, of the engine crankshaft that is considered safe: often measured in rpm.
  2. a red line or boundary of a red area that delineates such a value, as on a tachometer.
Also, red-line.
Origin
1940-45; red1 + line1
Related forms
redliner, noun
Examples from the web for redline
  • The power comes on fairly low in the rev range, and then evenly all the way to redline.
  • It shifts up smoothly, and will run the engine to its redline during full-throttle acceleration.
  • The transmission is designed to upshift at redline to protect the engine.
  • The engine revs freely and smoothly and will tolerate near-redline rpm without squawking.
British Dictionary definitions for redline

redline

/ˈrɛdˌlaɪn/
verb (transitive)
1.
(esp of a bank or group of banks) to refuse a loan to (a person or country) because of the presumed risks involved
2.
to restrict people's access to goods or services on the basis of the area in which they live
Word Origin and History for redline
v.

also red-line, "mark in red ink," 1820, from red (adj.1) + line (v.). Specific sense of "deny loans to certain neighborhoods based on ethnicity" is from 1973, on notion of lines drawn on maps. Used earlier in reference to insurance company practices (1961) and in World War II military slang in reference to a red line drawn through a soldier's name for some infraction, thus denying his pay. Related: Redlined; redlining.

Slang definitions & phrases for redline

redline

verb
  1. To cross a soldier's name off the payroll for some wrongdoing (WWII Army)
  2. : aimed at preventing redlining, the practice of denying loans to entire neighborhoods based on the predominant race or economic class of their residents (1973+)
  3. To achieve maximum speed; push the dial up to the red line: He had the car redlined (1990s+)
  4. : Comparerite also does what's called ''redlining,'' which allows you to add notes and comments that won't become part of the final document but can be seen by the next reader (Computers)