linear

[ lin-ee-er ]

/ ˈlɪn i ər /

adjective

of, consisting of, or using lines: linear design.

pertaining to or represented by lines: linear dimensions.

extended or arranged in a line: a linear series.

involving measurement in one dimension only; pertaining to length: linear measure.

of or relating to the characteristics of a work of art in which forms and rhythms are defined chiefly in terms of line.

having the form of or resembling a line: linear nebulae.

Mathematics.

consisting of, involving, or describable by terms of the first degree.
having the same effect on a sum as on each of the summands: a linear operation.

Electronics. delivering an output that is directly proportional to the input: a linear circuit; a linear amplifier.

threadlike; narrow and elongated: a linear leaf.

Nearby words

linea nigra, lineage, lineal, lineally, lineament, linear, linear a, linear accelerator, linear algebra, linear atrophy, linear b

Origin of linear

First recorded in 1635–45, linear is from the Latin word līneāris of, belonging to lines. See line¹, -ar¹

Related formslin·e·ar·ly, adverbnon·lin·e·ar, adjectivesub·lin·e·ar, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nonlinear

Guillermo Arriaga (Babel, 21 Grams, The Burning Plain) employs a nonlinear style.
Benjamin Percy: How I Write|Noah Charney|June 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Critics rediscovered Wuthering Heights, praising its complicated, nonlinear structure.
Battle of the Brontes|Jennie Yabroff|March 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Let us assume that each of the environmental variables is a nonlinear oscillator, as is probable.
The Breeding Birds of Kansas|Richard F. Johnston
The new stage corresponds to distributed, non-sequential forms of human activity, nonlinear dependencies.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

The frequency distribution of breeding activity in birds is described by a nonlinear curve (a normal distribution is nonlinear).
The Breeding Birds of Kansas|Richard F. Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for nonlinear (1 of 2)

nonlinear

/ (nɒnˈlɪnɪə) /

adjective

not of, in, along, or relating to a line

denoting digital editing in which edits are saved on computer, rather than videotape, thus enabling further edits to be made

British Dictionary definitions for nonlinear (2 of 2)

linear

/ (ˈlɪnɪə) /

adjective

of, in, along, or relating to a line

of or relating to length

resembling, represented by, or consisting of a line or lines

having one dimension

designating a style in the arts, esp painting, that obtains its effects through line rather than colour or light and in which the edges of forms and planes are sharply definedCompare painterly

maths of or relating to the first degreea linear equation

narrow and having parallel edgesa linear leaf

electronics

(of a circuit, etc) having an output that is directly proportional to inputlinear amplifier
having components arranged in a line

Derived Formslinearity (ˌlɪnɪˈærɪtɪ), nounlinearly, adverb

Word Origin for linear

C17: from Latin līneāris of or by means of lines

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nonlinear

linear

adj.

1640s, from French linéaire, from Latin linearis "belonging to a line," from linea "string, line" (see line (n.)). Essentially the same word as lineal; "in Latin linearis the original suffix -alis was dissimilated to -aris, but in Late Latin this rule was no longer productive and the formation or re-formation in -alis remained unchanged." [Barnhart]. Linear A and Linear B (1902-3) were names given to two related forms of linear Minoan writing discovered 1894-1901 in Crete by Sir Arthur Evans.

Medicine definitions for nonlinear

linear

[ lĭn′ē-ər ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or resembling a line; straight.

Science definitions for nonlinear

linear

[ lĭn′ē-ər ]

Being or resembling a line.