# Direct vs Linear - What's the difference?

direct | linear |

## As adjectives the difference between direct and linear

is that direct is straight, constant, without interruption while linear is linear (in mathematics, of first-degree polynomial).

is directly.

## As a verb direct

is to manage, control, steer.

# direct

## English

(er)
• Straight, constant, without interruption.
• Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end.
• the most direct route between two buildings
• Straightforward; sincere.
• * Shakespeare
• Be even and direct with me.
• Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
• * John Locke
• He nowhere, that I know, says it in direct words.
• * Hallam
• a direct and avowed interference with elections
• In the line of descent; not collateral.
• a descendant in the direct line
• (astronomy) In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; said of the motion of a celestial body.

* indirect

#### Derived terms

* direct action * direct current * direct flight * direct initiative * direct object * direct quote

• Directly.
• * 2009 , Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall , Fourth Estate 2010, p. 346:
• Presumably Mary is to carry messages that she, Anne, is too delicate to convey direct .

### Verb

(en verb)
• To manage, control, steer.
• to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army
• To aim (something) at (something else).
• They directed their fire towards the men on the wall.
He directed his question to the room in general.
• To point out or show to (somebody) the right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way.
• He directed me to the left-hand road.
• * Lubbock
• the next points to which I will direct your attention
• To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order.
• She directed them to leave immediately.
• * Shakespeare
• I'll first direct my men what they shall do.
• (dated) To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and residence of the person to whom anything is sent.
• to direct a letter

* * ----

# linear

## English

(wikipedia linear)

• (mathematics) Of or relating to a class of polynomial of the form $y = ax + b$.