Using existing item(s) to cut away parts of an existing LineString item
A LineString item is made up of vectors (LineString segments), each vector having a vertex point at its beginning and its end.
Subtract (Analysis > Boolean) allows you to cut away part of a LineString item using other LineString items to do so.
The resultant LineString item is a MultiLineString item. The items used to do the cutting are deleted.
See Merging existing LineString items to form one MultiLineString item.