Definition of "flatline"

flatline

/ˈflætˌlaɪn/

noun
plural flatlines
1. An unchanging state, as indicated in a graph of a variable over time.
  Quotations
  Thus, you hear words like "flatline recession," "improvement at a greatly reduced rate," "economic hiccup," "recessionette," "rolling readjustment" and "the economy is double clutching."
  1967 June 17, “Business Outlook”, in Business Week, part 6, page 23
2. Asystole; the absence of heart contractions or brain waves.
  1. The disappearance of the rhythmic peaks displayed on a heart monitor.
  2. The disappearance of brain waves on an electroencephalogram.
    Quotations
    When brain function ceases, the electroencephalogram shows flatline recordings.
    1972, Louis Lasagna, “Aging and the field of medicine”, in Matilda White Riley, Anne Foner, editors, Aging and Society: Aging and the professions, page 68
verb
third-person singular simple present flatlines, present participle flatlining, simple past and past participle flatlined
1. (intransitive, of the heart) To stop beating.
2. (intransitive, by extension) To die.
3. (transitive, slang) To kill.
  Quotations
  If looks could kill, Mona's sharp gaze would have flatlined him in one second.
  2013, Shobha Nihalani, Nine
  After all she'd been through, she needed sleep and food to heal, not endure a lovemaking session that was so passionate that it had pretty much flatlined him as well.
  2017, Stephanie Rowe, Not Quite Dead
4. To stay at the same level, without development; or, to fall.
  Quotations
  The economy in Northern Ireland is flatlining and jobs are scarce.
  2012, The Guardian, National Trust attempts to block £100m Giant's Causeway golf course
  But passenger numbers have since recovered to only 85% of pre-March 2020 levels, and growth has flatlined.
  2022 November 16, Mel Holley, “Network News: West Midlands prioritises the return of passsengers”, in RAIL, number 970, page 24
5. (of a graph) To experience significantly decreased rates of change compared to previous rates of change.

Definition of "flatline"

flatline

noun

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Quotations

verb

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