linear
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
following a straight line or moving in one direction.
having the form of a line; following a direct or straight course without deviation.
Simple“The park has several linear paths that lead directly to the lake.”
In context“The urban planners proposed a linear park system that would follow the old railway tracks through the heart of the city.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
happening in a clear, step-by-step order where one thing follows another.
relating to a process that progresses in a logical, sequential manner from one stage to the next.
Simple“The book tells a linear story, starting with the hero's birth and ending with his retirement.”
In context“Traditional novels often employ a linear narrative structure, whereas modern experimental fiction may jump between different time periods.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
describing a relationship where two things change at the same steady rate.
describing a relationship between two variables that can be represented by a straight line on a graph.
Simple“There is a linear relationship between how much you work and how much you earn in this job.”
In context“The researcher noted a linear correlation between the increase in temperature and the rate of chemical decomposition in the sample.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
having a shape that is very long and thin with straight sides.
possessing a long and narrow morphology with nearly parallel margins.
Simple“The plant is easy to identify because of its long, linear leaves.”
In context“The species is characterized by its linear foliage, which allows it to minimize water loss in arid environments.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
describing television or radio that plays on a fixed schedule rather than on-demand.
referring to traditional broadcasting where content is delivered according to a predetermined schedule.
Simple“Many young people prefer streaming services over linear TV channels.”
In context“Advertisers are shifting their budgets away from linear broadcasting as more consumers migrate to asynchronous viewing platforms.”
SynonymsAntonymson demand
Usage linear combination · linear sequence
“While the links between physical activity and having great sex might seem obvious, they are not as linear as you might expect.”
“For this is not a linear history; “the darkness had prompted a fossilisation of his [the poet’s] inner timepiece”.”
Borrowed from Latin līneāris, from līnea (“line”) + -āris (adjectival suffix), equivalent to line + -ar. Doublet of lineal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.