linearity
(lɪnɪˈærɪtɪ)
[f. linear a. + -ity.]
a. The quality or condition of being linear; a linear arrangement or formation.
| 1748 Phil. Trans. XLV. 390 Another Oversight, in this Plan [of Short-Hand], is the Neglect of Beauty and Linearity. 1837 J. Macculloch Proofs Attributes God III. xlvii. 284 The Palmetto is beautiful in its radiation, a Grass in its simple linearity. 1891 Athenæum 17 Oct. 515/2 Backslopes and upright strokes are practically discarded, linearity is well preserved. 1947 A. Einstein Mus. Romantic Era xvi. 245 Wagner wrote a Prelude..in the ‘linearity’ of which he seemed to overstep the stylistic limits of his own time. 1955 Homans & Schneider Marriage, Authority & Final Causes 20 Almost all the eastern Asian societies in which he finds mother's brother's daughter marriage preferred are organised in patrilineages. He concerns himself with linearity, [etc.]. 1958 Times 5 Dec. 8/6 Ectomorphy describes the linearity of the build. 1964 M. McLuhan Understanding Media xviii. 172 The linearity precision and uniformity of the arrangement of movable types. |
b. spec. in Math. and Physics, the property of being linear in sense 3 a of the adj.; proportionality of two related quantities (such as input and output).
| 1904 [see extrapolate v. 2 a]. 1943 Electronic Engin. XVI. 55/1 The insertion of a valve amplifier between the time base and the cathode-ray tube often involves some sacrifice in linearity. 1946 Nature 7 Sept. 330/2 Linearity is also important in the optical pick-up from the record, in the sense that the illumination of the photo-electric cell must be strictly proportional to the width of the white part of the illuminated area of the record. 1962 Simpson & Richards Physical Princ. Junction Transistors xii. 269 Because the gain is high and the linearity fair, negative feedback may be used to exchange gain for linearity. |
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Add: c. Linguistics. The property of being linear (in sense *3 e of the adj.).
| 1959 W. Baskin tr. F. de Saussure's Course in Gen. Linguistics ii. v. 123 Words acquire relations based on the linear nature of language... Combinations supported by linearity are syntagms. 1964 N. Chomsky Current Issues in Linguistic Theory iv. 78 The linearity condition..requires that each occurrence of a phoneme..be associated with a particular succession of (one or more) consecutive phones. 1975 ― Logical Struct. Linguistic Theory viii. 267 Even if we drop the requirement of proper linearity for grammars, we are not able to present a satisfactory description of the system of phrase structure in question. 1979 Amer. Speech 1978 LIII. 275 Linearity means that single devices must serve multiple functions. Ibid. 282 It is linearity..that has led linguists to the concept of surface and deep structure. 1988 Appl. Linguistics IX. 351 One should note that simultaneity and linearity are not absolute characteristics of sign languages and spoken languages respectively. |