linear

lin·e·ar

adj \ˈli-nē-ər\

Definition of LINEAR

1

a (1) : of, relating to, resembling, or having a graph that is a line and especially a straight line : straight (2) : involving a single dimension b (1) : of the first degree with respect to one or more variables (2) : of, relating to, based on, or being linear equations, linear differential equations, linear functions, linear transformations, or linear algebra c (1) : characterized by an emphasis on line <linear art> (2) : composed of simply drawn lines with little attempt at pictorial representation <linear script> d : consisting of a straight chain of atoms

2

: elongated with nearly parallel sides <linear leaf> — see leaf illustration

3

: having or being a response or output that is directly proportional to the input

4

: of, relating to, or based or depending on sequential development <linear thinking> <a linear narrative>

— lin·e·ar·i·ty \ˌli-nē-ˈer-ə-tē, -ˈa-rə-\ noun

— lin·e·ar·ly \ˈli-nē-ər-lē\ adverb

Examples of LINEAR

1. a flat, almost linear horizon
2. <the bullets from early firearms were notorious for not following a strictly linear path through the air>

First Known Use of LINEAR

circa 1656

Related to LINEAR

Synonyms: direct, straight, right, straightaway, straightforward

Related Words: unbent, uncurled, untwisted; undeviating, unswerving

Near Antonyms: bowed, rounded; entwined, kinked, swirled, turned, turning, twined, twining, twisted, twisting, veering, warped; bending, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, curled, curling, curved, curving, looped, looping, spiral, spiraling (or spiralling), wavy, winding; meandering, weaving; devious, serpentine, sinuous; crooked, zigzag, zigzagging

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Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge