linear

/ˈlɪniə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪniər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-nē-ər/ (ame, mw)

linear — adjective

  • linearpositive
  • more linearcomparative
  • most linearsuperlative

1. having the form, look, or measurement of a line; based on straight or elongated

1.形容詞B1
釋義

having the form, look, or measurement of a line; based on straight or elongated shapes, or relating to how long something is.

例句

The building's linear design gives it a sleek, modern look.

attributive use: linear design

Nala used a ruler to draw clean linear patterns across the page.

collocation: linear pattern

同義詞
  • straight

    more general and common; 'straight' does not carry the technical sense of line-based design

  • rectilinear

    more formal and technical, used mainly in geometry and architecture

反義詞
  • curved

    describes a rounded or bending shape rather than a straight line

文法句型

linear + noun

be + linear

常見錯誤

❌The garden path is linear, winding around the trees.
✅The garden path is winding, curving around the trees.
💡'linear' describes a straight-line path, not a curved one.
❌She drew a linear circle on the paper.
✅She drew a circle on the paper.
💡a circle is curved, not linear; 'linear' refers to lines, not round shapes.

2. moving through a fixed series of steps where each new stage directly follows the

2.形容詞B1
釋義

moving through a fixed series of steps where each new stage directly follows the previous one, without skipping anything or going backwards.

例句

Gabriel prefers a linear approach to problem-solving, addressing each issue one at a time.

collocation: linear approach

Mizuki reminded the class that human memory is not always linear and sequential.

contrast: not always linear

同義詞
  • sequential

    nearly identical; 'sequential' emphasises the ordering of events, while 'linear' emphasises the straight line of progression

  • chronological

    specifically about time order; 'linear' can apply to non-temporal sequences as well

  • step-by-step

    more informal and concrete; often used for instructions or procedures

反義詞
  • non-linear

    the direct opposite; describes processes that do not follow a single ordered sequence

  • random

    implies no order or pattern at all, which is a stronger contrast than non-linear

文法句型

linear + noun

be + linear

用法筆記

Commonly contrasted with 'non-linear' (non-sequential). Often used when discussing storytelling, thought processes, career paths, and learning systems.

常見錯誤

❌She used a linear method, jumping from topic to topic without order.
✅She used a non-linear method, jumping from topic to topic.
💡'linear' means following a strict sequence, not skipping around.

3. describing a case where two linked variables change together in step, so that do

3.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a case where two linked variables change together in step, so that doubling the first produces a doubling of the second.

例句

Tanvi found a linear relationship between the hours she studied and her test scores.

collocation: linear relationship

The company expects linear growth in sales as more customers join each month.

collocation: linear growth

同義詞
  • proportional

    more general; all linear relationships are proportional, but 'proportional' is less technical

  • directly proportional

    more precise in mathematics; a directly proportional relationship is a specific type of linear relationship passing through zero

反義詞
  • exponential

    describes growth that accelerates over time, the opposite of steady linear growth

  • inverse

    describes a relationship where one variable goes up as the other goes down

文法句型

linear + noun

be + linear

linear relationship between X and Y

用法筆記

Common in scientific and economic writing. The phrase 'linear relationship' is a standard term in statistics and data analysis.

常見錯誤

❌The cost is linear to the number of items.
✅The cost is proportional to the number of items.
💡'linear' describes a type of relationship; 'proportional' is the everyday word for things changing at the same rate.

4. relating to equations, functions, or expressions in which each variable is raise

4.形容詞B2
釋義

relating to equations, functions, or expressions in which each variable is raised only to the first power (no squares or higher exponents), forming a straight line when plotted on a graph.

例句

The equation y = 3x + 2 is a simple linear function with a straight-line graph.

canonical example: y = mx + c form

Dahlia solved the linear equation by subtracting five from both sides.

collocation: linear equation

同義詞
  • first-degree

    technical synonym referring to the highest power of a variable being 1

反義詞
  • non-linear

    describes equations or functions with variables raised to powers other than 1

  • quadratic

    specifically describes equations with a squared variable

文法句型

linear + noun

be + linear

用法筆記

The core mathematical sense. A linear equation can be written in the form y = mx + b. Linear functions have a constant rate of change, which appears as a straight line on a graph.

常見錯誤

❌A quadratic equation like y = x² is a type of linear equation.
✅A quadratic equation like y = x² is non-linear because the variable is squared.
💡Linear equations have variables only to the first power (no exponents).

5. describing traditional television, radio, or other media in which content is bro

5.形容詞B2
釋義

describing traditional television, radio, or other media in which content is broadcast at scheduled times on specific channels, rather than being available whenever the viewer chooses.

例句

Élise still watches linear television, but her son only streams shows online.

contrast: linear TV vs streaming

On weeknights at nine, Jun watches her favourite drama on channel five through linear broadcasting.

collocation: linear broadcasting

同義詞
  • scheduled

    less technical but captures the same idea of programs airing at fixed times

  • broadcast

    overlapping but broader; 'broadcast' can refer to any transmission, linear or on-demand in some contexts

反義詞
  • on-demand

    content available whenever the user chooses to access it

  • streaming

    digital delivery that typically allows user control over timing

文法句型

linear + noun

用法筆記

Used in contrast with 'on-demand', 'streaming', or 'digital' media. Common in industry reports and media analysis. Often used as 'linear TV' or 'linear broadcasting'.

6. describing a technique for editing video or audio files in which the editor proc

6.形容詞C1
釋義

describing a technique for editing video or audio files in which the editor processes the material from start to finish, without being able to jump directly to a chosen point.

例句

Early video editors used linear editing, splicing tape from start to finish.

collocation: linear editing

Linear editing requires the editor to plan the entire sequence before cutting the tape.

grammar pattern: [noun] + requires + [person] + to

同義詞
  • tape-based

    historical synonym referring to the physical medium used in linear editing

反義詞
  • non-linear

    modern digital editing that allows random access to any point in the material

文法句型

linear + noun

用法筆記

Mainly used in professional video and audio production contexts. Most modern editing is non-linear (NLE), where editors can access any part of the material instantly.