US /ˈlɪni.əɹ/ UK /ˈlɪni.ə/
adj Freq #18809

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    Following a straight line or a single direction.

    The new highway runs in a linear path across the plain.

  2. 2
    adj

    Arranged or happening in a clear step-by-step order.

    The novel rejects a linear timeline and jumps between decades.

  3. 3
    adj

    Relating to length measured in one dimension only.

    We ordered three linear meters of fabric for the curtains.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · following a straight line... one-dimensional
More linelike
Opposites
nonlinear
Word family
Derived forms antilinearbasolinearbilinearcircumlinearcolinearcollinearcrosslinearcurvilinearhyperlinearinterlinealinterlinearisolinear

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin līneāris, from līnea (“line”) + -āris (adjectival suffix), equivalent to line + -ar. Doublet of lineal.

Topics

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