LINEAR

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does linear mean? 

• LINEAR (adjective)
  The adjective LINEAR has 5 senses:

1. designating or involving an equation whose terms are of the first degree

2. of or in or along or relating to a line; involving or having a single dimension

3. of a circuit or device having an output that is proportional to the input

4. (of a leaf shape) long and narrow

5. measured lengthwise

  Familiarity information: LINEAR used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LINEAR (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Designating or involving an equation whose terms are of the first degree

Synonyms:

additive; linear

Similar:

bilinear (linear with respect to each of two variables or positions)

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Antonym:

nonlinear (designating or involving an equation whose terms are not of the first degree)

Derivation:

linearity (the property of having one dimension)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or in or along or relating to a line; involving or having a single dimension

Synonyms:

linear; one-dimensional

Context example:

a linear measurement

Similar:

collinear (lying on the same line)

lineal (arranged in a line)

linelike (resembling a line)

rectilineal; rectilinear (characterized by a straight line or lines)

Antonym:

cubic (having the shape of a cube; having three dimensions)

planar (involving or having two dimensions)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of a circuit or device having an output that is proportional to the input

Synonyms:

analog; analogue; linear

Context example:

linear amplifier

Domain category:

electronics (the branch of physics that deals with the emission and effects of electrons and with the use of electronic devices)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(of a leaf shape) long and narrow

Synonyms:

elongate; linear

Similar:

simple; unsubdivided ((botany) of leaf shapes; of leaves having no divisions or subdivisions)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Measured lengthwise

Synonyms:

linear; running

Context example:

cost of lumber per running foot

Similar:

lengthways; lengthwise (running or extending in the direction of the length of a thing)

 Context examples 

Less than normal weight gain in an infant or child, which may include poor linear and head growth.

(Pediatric Failure to Thrive, NCI Thesaurus)

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear polysaccharide chains consisting of repeating disaccharide units and form proteoglycans by covalently attaching to their core proteins.

(Glycosaminoglycan Biosynthesis Pathway - Chondroitin Sulfate, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

Less than normal linear growth in an infant or child.

(Growth Failure, NCI Thesaurus)

A genus of enveloped viruses with a genome consisting of a single molecule of linear positive-sense single-stranded RNA.

(Flavivirus, NCI Thesaurus)

A family of very small DNA viruses containing a single linear molecule of single-stranded DNA and consisting of two subfamilies: parvovirinae and densovirinae.

(Parvovirus, NCI Thesaurus)

Any one of a set of linear accelerator parameters that define the segments from which a radiation beam is applied.

(Control Point, NCI Thesaurus)

The genome is composed of a linear single-strand of negative sense RNA.

(Ebola Virus, NCI Thesaurus)

The genome is composed of monopartite, linear double-stranded DNA.

(Human Herpesvirus 2, NCI Thesaurus)

A traditional unit of linear measurement equal to one-millionth of an inch.

(Microinch, NCI Thesaurus)

The genome is composed of linear, segmented double-stranded RNA.

(Orbivirus, NCI Thesaurus)