adj.
Pronunciation: ' li-n ē - ə r
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1656
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 \ ˌ li-n ē - ' er- ə -t ē , - ' a-r ə - \ noun
– lin · e · ar · ly \ ' li-n ē - ə r-l ē \ adverb