A spectral line is a particular distinct frequency or narrow band of a frequency set. The resonance of this frequency occurs corresponding to a particular chemical shift. Theoretically, the frequency of a pure sine wave displays sharp spectral lines at the point of Larmor frequency. In reality, the spectral lines spread into a blurred peak, caused by field inhomogeneities and spin-spin effect.

An array of the frequency components of the MR signal according to frequency. Nuclei with different resonant frequencies will show up as values at different corresponding frequencies in the spectrum. When resonances are relatively isolated they appear as peaks or lines in the spectrum.
A spectrum is also a graphic representation of the range over which a quantity extends.