linear

comparative more linear · superlative most linear

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.

   2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 4

2. Of or relating to lines.

   Synonyms: lineal

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

   a linear medium

4. biologyLong and narrow, with nearly parallel sides.
5. (of polynomials or polynomial equations)
   1. mathematicsHaving 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.

   2. mathematicsInvolving 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

6. (of functions or maps)
   1. mathematicsAn 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.

   2. mathematicsA module homomorphism; that is, a group homomorphism that commutes with scalar multiplication. See also Module homomorphism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
7. natural sciencesA type of length measurement involving only one spatial dimension (as opposed to area or volume).

   a linear meter

8. mediaDelivered or delivering on a fixed schedule, as opposed to on-demand.First known use 1980s

   Linear television is dead or, at least, declining.

   3 more examples

   linear TV, linear content, linear video, linear radio

   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”).

   2004, Wolfgang Hoeg, Thomas Lauterbach, editors, Digital Audio Broadcasting: Principles and Applications of Digital Radio, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 186

   Synonyms: broadcast, tune-in · Antonyms: streaming, on-demand, non-linear

plural linears

1. abbreviationellipsisslangbroadcastingEllipsis of linear amplifier.

1. astronomyA comet, cataloged as “C/1999 S4”, discovered on September 27, 1999, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research program in New Mexico. (See https://web.archive.org/web/20051220100856/http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/comets/linear.html) Sometimes spelled LINEAR.

1. abbreviationinitialismastronomyInitialism of Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research program.