Definition: linear

A constant progression or force. On a graph, a linear example is a straight line. Contrast with "exponential" or "geometric," which are both nonlinear. For example, a linear set of numbers is 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, etc., each number a constant increase of "2." An exponential progression might be 1, 5, 11, 20, 32, 54, 85, etc., each element a larger difference than the previous one. A doubling is also exponential, such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, etc.