linear

adjective

1. 1

   Having the form of a line; straight or roughly straight; following a direct course.

   The route taken does not have to be a perfectly straight line, just so long as it is linear and is followed consistently for each transect taken.

2. 2

   Of or relating to lines.

3. 3

   Made, or designed to be used, in a step-by-step, sequential manner.

   a linear medium

4. 4

   Long and narrow, with nearly parallel sides.

5. 5

   (of polynomials or polynomial equations) Having degree one; that is, being of the form a_1x_1+a_2x_2+⋯+a_nx_n+b, where each x_i is a variable. See also Linear polynomials on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

   4x#43;5y#43;#92;frac#123;1#125;#123;2#125;z is a linear polynomial, but 4xy#43;#92;frac#123;1#125;#123;2#125;z and 4x#43;z² are not.

6. 6

   (of polynomials or polynomial equations) Involving only linear polynomials. See also Linear equation on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

   The graph of the linear equation y#61;ax#43;b is a straight line with slope a and y-intercept b

7. 7

   (of functions or maps) An additive, homogeneous mapping; that is, a function f:V→W is linear if it distributes over vector addition (f( mathbf v+ mathbf w)=f( mathbf v)+f( mathbf w)) and respects scalar multiplication (f(c mathbf v)=cf( mathbf v)). If V and W are vector spaces over a field K, f may also be called a K-linear map. See also linear map on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

   The map f#58;#92;mathbb#123;R#125;³#92;to#92;mathbb#123;R#125;² taking (x,y,z)#92;mapsto(x#43;y#43;z,x-y#43;3z) is a linear map.

8. 8

   (of functions or maps) A module homomorphism; that is, a group homomorphism that commutes with scalar multiplication. See also Module homomorphism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

9. 9

   A type of length measurement involving only one spatial dimension (as opposed to area or volume).

   a linear meter

10. 10

    Delivered or delivering on a fixed schedule, as opposed to on-demand.

    linear TV, linear content, linear video, linear radio

    Linear television is dead or, at least, declining.

    Linear television includes traditional over-the-air broadcasting, as well as much cable and satellite broadcasting.

    Linear radio relates to our well-known tune-in radio, where the listener depends on the programmers schedule. In non-linear radio applications, the listener is able to choose previously broadcast audio pieces, which are held in local storage of the receiver (“mailbox”).

noun

1. 1

   Variant of linear amplifierslangEllipsis of linear amplifier.

Forms

plural

linears

comparative

more linear

superlative

most linear