Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Linear?

\Lin"e*ar\ (-[-e]*[~e]r), a. [L. linearis, linearius, fr. linea line: cf. F. lin['e]aire. See 3d {Line}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a line; consisting of lines; in a straight direction; lineal. 2. (Bot.) Like a line; narrow; of the same breadth throughout, except at the extremities; as, a linear leaf. {Linear differential equation} (Math.), an equation which is of the first degree, when the expression which is equated to zero is regarded as a function of the dependent variable and its differential coefficients. {Linear equation} (Math.), an equation of the first degree between two variables; -- so called because every such equation may be considered as representing a right line. {Linear measure}, the measurement of length. {Linear numbers} (Math.), such numbers as have relation to length only: such is a number which represents one side of a plane figure. If the plane figure is a square, the linear figure is called a root. {Linear problem} (Geom.), a problem which may be solved geometrically by the use of right lines alone. {Linear transformation} (Alg.), a change of variables where each variable is replaced by a function of the first degree in the new variable.