linear

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

2. (mathematics) (of polynomials or polynomial equations)Examples: "4x#43;5y#43;#92;frac#123;1#125;#123;2#125;z is a linear polynomial, but 4xy#43;#92;frac#123;1#125;#123;2#125;z and 4x#43;z² are not."

3. (mathematics) (of polynomials or polynomial equations)Examples: "The graph of the linear equation y#61;ax#43;b is a straight line with slope a and y-intercept b"

4. (mathematics) (of functions or maps)Examples: "The map f#58;#92;mathbb#123;R#125;³#92;to#92;mathbb#123;R#125;² taking (x,y,z)#92;mapsto(x#43;y#43;z,x-y#43;3z) is a linear map."

5. (mathematics) (of functions or maps)

6. (physics) A type of length measurement involving only one spatial dimension (as opposed to area or volume).Examples: "a linear meter"