gestrichelt

Gestrichelt is a German adjective used to describe patterns, lines or outlines that are made up of short segments or dashes rather than being solid. It is commonly applied in design, drawing and printing to indicate a line style that appears broken or interrupted, as opposed to durchgezogen (solid) or gepunktet (dotted).

The word derives from the element Streich, meaning a stroke or dash, with the prefix ge- forming an adjective. In practice, das gestrichelte Muster or eine gestrichelte Linie denotes a dashed line or a pattern consisting of separated marks. The form is declined like other adjectives: eine gestrichelte Linie, zwei gestrichelte Linien, das gestrichelte Muster, die gestrichelten Linien.

Usage spans several domains. In technical drawings, gestrichelte Linien often represent hidden edges or alternative positions. In maps and diagrams, they can indicate boundaries, zones or optional features. In graphic design and textiles, gestrichelte Linien or Muster describe decorative or instructional elements with a dash-like appearance.

Related terms include gesprochene Gegensätze wie durchgezogen (solid lines) and gepunktet (dotted). While gestrichelt emphasizes the dash-like quality, other patterns may be described more specifically as gestricheltes Muster, gestrichelte Bordüre or gestrichelte Linienführung, depending on context.

See also: Linienarten, Diagrammlinien, Musterbeschreibung, Typografische Stilarten.