Linear Meaning
/ˈlɪn.i.ə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjHaving the form of a line; straight or roughly straight; following a direct course.
adjOf or relating to lines.
Sentence Examples
Is the system linear?
He's an eccentric man who thought that time was not linear.
In his art he broke the laws of scientific linear perspective.
CEFR Practice Quiz
On the graph, the data points fell along a ____ path, making the trend easy to see.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The project followed a ____ progression, moving from the initial design phase to the final implementation.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin līneāris, from līnea (“line”) + -āris (adjectival suffix), equivalent to line + -ar. Doublet of lineal.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
On the graph, the data points fell along a ____ path, making the trend easy to see.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The project followed a ____ progression, moving from the initial design phase to the final implementation.