Engineering English
Overhead Line
Electrical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: An overhead line is an electric power transmission or distribution line suspended above the ground using poles or towers.
Example in context
“The design of the overhead line must consider wind loading and ice accumulation for reliable operation.”
“Havai hattın tasarımı güvenilir işletme için rüzgar yükü ve buz birikimini dikkate almalıdır.”
Where engineers use it
Used in transmission and distribution system design, route selection, and structural analysis. Engineers calculate sag, tension, and clearance to ensure safety and reliability.
Synonyms: overhead power line, OHL
Antonyms: underground cable
Practice: can you use “Overhead Line” at work?
You are asked to determine the minimum ground clearance for a new 230 kV overhead line crossing a highway.
Show a model answer
“Ensure the overhead line clearances meet the applicable safety standards.”
“Overhead Line” in 21 languages
| English | Overhead Line |
|---|---|
| Turkish | havai hat |
| French | ligne aérienne |
| German | Freileitung |
| Spanish | línea aérea |
| Chinese | 架空线路 |
| Arabic | خط هوائي |
| Portuguese | linha aérea |
| Russian | воздушная линия |
| Japanese | 架空送電線 |
| Italian | linea aerea |
| Vietnamese | đường dây trên không |
| Hindi | ओवरहेड लाइन |
| Thai | สายส่งเหนือศีรษะ |
| Indonesian | saluran udara |
| Korean | 가공선로 |
| Bengali | ওভারহেড লাইন |
| Dutch | bovenleiding |
| Swedish | luftledning |
| Finnish | ilmajohto |
| Ukrainian | повітряна лінія |
Frequently asked questions
What does Overhead Line mean in engineering?
An overhead line is an electric power transmission or distribution line suspended above the ground using poles or towers. In Electrical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Overhead Line?
Overhead Line is pronounced /ˈoʊvərˌhɛd laɪn/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Overhead Line used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The design of the overhead line must consider wind loading and ice accumulation for reliable operation.”
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