linear🔊

Having the form of a line; straight or roughly straight; following a direct course.

Of or relating to lines. +

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

(of leaves) Long and narrow, with nearly parallel sides.

(mathematics) ({{non-gloss|of polynomials or polynomial equations}})

(of a polynomial) Having degree one; that is, being of the form a_1x_1 + a_2x_2 + \cdots + a_nx_n +b, where each x_i is a variable. See also (Linear polynomials)

(of a polynomial equation) Involving only linear polynomials. See also {{pedia|Linear equation}}

(mathematics) ({{non-gloss|of functions or maps}})

(of a function between vector spaces) An additive, homogeneous mapping; that is, a function f:V \to 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 {{pedia|linear map}}

(of a function over a module) A module homomorphism; that is, a group homomorphism that commutes with scalar multiplication. See also {{pedia|Module homomorphism}}

(physics) A type of length measurement involving only one spatial dimension {{qualifier|as opposed to area or volume}}.

(y=2025) (of video and audio) Delivered or delivering on a fixed schedule, as opposed to on-demand. +

(radio slang) (linear amplifier).