The term is given on a line by itself, followed by
one or more definitions. Each definition must begin
with :
(after 0-2 spaces); subsequent lines must
be indented unless they are lazy paragraph
continuations.
The list is tight if there is no blank line between the term and the first definition, otherwise loose.
apple
: red fruit
orange
: orange fruit
.
<dl>
<dt>apple</dt>
<dd>red fruit
</dd>
<dt>orange</dt>
<dd>orange fruit
</dd>
</dl>
Loose:
apple
: red fruit
orange
: orange fruit
.
<dl>
<dt>apple</dt>
<dd>
<p>red fruit</p>
</dd>
<dt>orange</dt>
<dd>
<p>orange fruit</p>
</dd>
</dl>
Indented marker:
apple
: red fruit
orange
: orange fruit
.
<dl>
<dt>apple</dt>
<dd>red fruit
</dd>
<dt>orange</dt>
<dd>orange fruit
</dd>
</dl>
apple
: red fruit
orange
: orange fruit
.
<dl>
<dt>apple</dt>
<dd>
<p>red fruit</p>
</dd>
<dt>orange</dt>
<dd>
<p>orange fruit</p>
</dd>
</dl>
Multiple blocks in a definition:
*apple*
: red fruit
contains seeds,
crisp, pleasant to taste
*orange*
: orange fruit
{ orange code block }
> orange block quote
.
<dl>
<dt><em>apple</em></dt>
<dd>
<p>red fruit</p>
<p>contains seeds,
crisp, pleasant to taste</p>
</dd>
<dt><em>orange</em></dt>
<dd>
<p>orange fruit</p>
<pre><code>{ orange code block }
</code></pre>
<blockquote>
<p>orange block quote</p>
</blockquote>
</dd>
</dl>
Nested lists:
term
: 1. Para one
Para two
.
<dl>
<dt>term</dt>
<dd>
<ol>
<li><p>Para one</p>
<p>Para two</p></li>
</ol>
</dd>
</dl>
Multiple definitions, tight:
apple
: red fruit
: computer company
orange
: orange fruit
: telecom company
.
<dl>
<dt>apple</dt>
<dd>red fruit
</dd>
<dd>computer company
</dd>
<dt>orange</dt>
<dd>orange fruit
</dd>
<dd>telecom company
</dd>
</dl>
Multiple definitions, loose:
apple
: red fruit
: computer company
orange
: orange fruit
: telecom company
.
<dl>
<dt>apple</dt>
<dd>
<p>red fruit</p>
</dd>
<dd>
<p>computer company</p>
</dd>
<dt>orange</dt>
<dd>
<p>orange fruit</p>
</dd>
<dd>
<p>telecom company</p>
</dd>
</dl>
Lazy line continuations:
apple
: red fruit
: computer
company
orange
: orange
fruit
: telecom company
.
<dl>
<dt>apple</dt>
<dd>
<p>red fruit</p>
</dd>
<dd>
<p>computer
company</p>
</dd>
<dt>orange</dt>
<dd>
<p>orange
fruit</p>
</dd>
<dd>
<p>telecom company</p>
</dd>
</dl>
~
may be used as a marker instead of :
:
apple
~ red fruit
orange
~ orange fruit
.
<dl>
<dt>apple</dt>
<dd>red fruit
</dd>
<dt>orange</dt>
<dd>orange fruit
</dd>
</dl>
Definition terms may span multiple lines:
a
b\
c
: foo
.
<dl>
<dt>a
b<br />
c</dt>
<dd>
<p>foo</p>
</dd>
</dl>
Definition list with preceding paragraph (#35):
Foo
bar
: baz
bim
: bor
.
<p>Foo</p>
<dl>
<dt>bar</dt>
<dd>baz
</dd>
<dt>bim</dt>
<dd>bor
</dd>
</dl>