linear

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: lin=e=ar

CIDE DICTIONARY

linear, a. [L. linearis, linearius, fr. linea line: cf. F. linéaire. See 3d Line.].

•  Of or pertaining to a line; consisting of lines; in a straight direction; lineal.  [1913 Webster]
•  Like a line; narrow; of the same breadth throughout, except at the extremities; as, a linear leaf.  [1913 Webster]
•  Thinking in a step-by-step analytical and logical fashion; contrasted with holistic, i.e. thinking in terms of complex interrelated patterns; as, linear thinkers.  [PJC]

  "Linear thinkers concluded that by taking the world apart, the actions of people were more predictable and controllable."

Linear differential equation (Math.), an equation which is of the first degree, when the expression which is equated to zero is regarded as a function of the dependent variable and its differential coefficients. -- Linear equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree between two variables; -- so called because every such equation may be considered as representing a right line.<-- = straight line! --> -- Linear measure, the measurement of length. -- Linear numbers (Math.), such numbers as have relation to length only: such is a number which represents one side of a plane figure. If the plane figure is square, the linear figure is called a root. -- Linear problem (Geom.), a problem which may be solved geometrically by the use of right lines alone. -- Linear transformation (Alg.), a change of variables where each variable is replaced by a function of the first degree in the new variable.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

linear, adj.
1 a of or in lines; in lines rather than masses (linear development). b of length (linear extent).
2 long and narrow and of uniform breadth.
3 involving one dimension only.

Idiom

linear accelerator Physics an accelerator in which particles travel in straight lines, not in closed orbits. Linear B a form of Bronze Age writing found in Crete and parts of Greece and recording a form of Mycenaean Greek: an earlier undeciphered form (Linear A) also exists. linear equation an equation between two variables that gives a straight line when plotted on a graph. linear motor a motor producing straight-line (not rotary) motion by means of a magnetic field.

Derivative

linearity n. linearize v.tr. (also -ise). linearly adv.

Etymology

L linearis f. linea LINE(1)

THESAURUS

linear

Plimsoll line, Plimsoll mark, arrowlike, catenary, consecutive, dead straight, direct, even, flat, high-water mark, horizontal, in a line, level, lineal, load waterline, ordinal, progressive, rectilineal, rectilinear, right, ruler-straight, sequent, sequential, serial, seriate, smooth, straight, straight-cut, straight-front, straight-side, streamlined, successional, successive, tidemark, true, unbending, unbent, unbowed, unbroken, uncurved, undeflected, undeviating, undistorted, uninterrupted, unswerving, unturned, upright, vertical, waterline, watermark

ROGET THESAURUS

linear

Continuity

N continuity, consecution, consecutiveness, succession, round, suite, progression, series, train chain, catenation, concatenation, scale, gradation, course, ceaselessness, constant flow, unbroken extent, procession, column, retinue, cortege, cavalcade, rank and file, line of battle, array, pedigree, genealogy, lineage, race, ancestry, descent, family, house, line, line of ancestors, strain, rank, file, line, row, range, tier, string, thread, team, suit, colonnade, continuous, continued, consecutive, progressive, gradual, serial, successive, immediate, unbroken, entire, linear, in a line, in a row, uninterrupted, unintermitting, unremitting, unrelenting (perseverence), perennial, evergreen, constant, continuously, seriatim, in a line, in succession, in turn, running, gradually, step by step, gradatim, at a stretch, in file, in column, in single file, in Indian file.

Paternity

N paternity, parentage, consanguinity, parent, father, sire, dad, papa, paterfamilias, abba, genitor, progenitor, procreator, ancestor, grandsire, grandfather, great- grandfather, fathership, fatherhood, mabap, house, stem, trunk, tree, stock, stirps, pedigree, lineage, line, family, tribe, sept, race, clan, genealogy, descent, extraction, birth, ancestry, forefathers, forbears, patriarchs, motherhood, maternity, mother, dam, mamma, materfamilias, grandmother, paternal, parental, maternal, family, ancestral, linear, patriarchal, avi numerantur avorum, happy he with such a mother, hombre bueno no le busquen abolengo, philosophia stemma non inspicit.

Length

N length, longitude, span, mileage, distance, line, bar, rule, stripe, streak, spoke, radius, lengthening, prolongation, production, protraction, tension, tensure, extension, line, nail, inch, hand, palm, foot, cubit, yard, ell, fathom, rood, pole, furlong, mile, league, chain, link, arpent, handbreadth, jornada, kos, vara, astronomical unit, AU, light- year, parsec, nanometer, nm, micron, micrometer, millimicron, millimeter, mm, centimeter, cm, meter, kilometer, km, pedometer, perambulator, scale, long, longsome, lengthy, wiredrawn, outstretched, lengthened, sesquipedalian, interminable, no end of, macrocolous, linear, lineal, longitudinal, oblong, as long as my arm, as long as today and tomorrow, unshortened &c (shorten), lengthwise, at length, longitudinally, endlong, along, tandem, in a line, in perspective, from end to end, from stem to stern, from head to foot, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, from top to toe, fore and aft.