nonlinear
gb/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ/ us/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ/
C1
Inglés
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
technical
C1
property
1
Not directly proportional
In math or science, not changing in a simple straight-line way.
Patrón de uso:
nonlinear [relationship/equation/model/system]
Error frecuente:
Do not use nonlinear to mean only “complicated”; it specifically contrasts with linear or proportional behavior.
Sinónimos
nonproportional (Emphasizes that changes are not in a constant ratio.)
|
curvilinear (More specific; often means shown as a curve on a graph.)
|
complex (Less precise; suggests complicated behavior rather than a mathematical form.)
Antónimos
linear (Changes at a constant rate or can be represented by a straight line.)
|
proportional (One quantity changes in a constant ratio with another.)
Colocaciones
nonlinear relationship
|nonlinear equation
|nonlinear model
|nonlinear system
|nonlinear function
|nonlinear regression
|nonlinear dynamics
|nonlinear effect
|nonlinear response
|nonlinear curve
Temas
mathematics
|science
|data_analysis
|engineering
Ejemplos
- The model is nonlinear, so doubling the input does not double the output.
- The data show a nonlinear relationship between income and life satisfaction.
- Engineers used special software to solve the nonlinear equations.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The graph is nonlinear, so it is not a straight line.
- This is a nonlinear problem in mathematics.
adjective
C1
property
2
Not in time order
Not arranged from beginning to end in the usual order.
Patrón de uso:
nonlinear [story/narrative/timeline/structure/order]
Error frecuente:
For simple time order, chronological is often clearer than linear.
Sinónimos
nonchronological (Specifically means not arranged by time.)
|
fragmented (Suggests pieces or scenes are broken up and rearranged.)
|
branching (Emphasizes multiple possible paths or choices.)
Antónimos
chronological (Arranged in the order events happened.)
|
sequential (Following one step after another.)
|
linear (Moving in a straight, ordered sequence.)
Colocaciones
nonlinear narrative
|nonlinear story
|nonlinear timeline
|nonlinear structure
|nonlinear storytelling
|nonlinear gameplay
|nonlinear presentation
|nonlinear course
|nonlinear format
|nonlinear layout
Temas
storytelling
|media
|education
|design
Ejemplos
- The film has a nonlinear structure, jumping between childhood and adulthood.
- The app lets users explore the lessons in a nonlinear order.
- The novel’s nonlinear timeline can be confusing at first.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The story is nonlinear.
- It does not happen in time order.
adjective
C1
property
3
Not steady or direct
Having ups and downs or changes in direction instead of moving steadily forward.
Patrón de uso:
nonlinear [process/progress/path/growth/recovery]
Error frecuente:
Nonlinear progress can still be real progress; it means the path is not smooth or direct.
Sinónimos
uneven (Everyday word for progress that is not steady.)
|
irregular (Emphasizes lack of a regular pattern.)
|
unpredictable (Emphasizes that the next stage is hard to foresee.)
Antónimos
steady (Progresses at a regular pace.)
|
straightforward (Develops in a simple, direct way.)
|
linear (Moves forward in a clear, step-by-step direction.)
Colocaciones
nonlinear progress
|nonlinear recovery
|nonlinear growth
|nonlinear learning
|nonlinear process
|nonlinear path
|nonlinear career
|nonlinear development
|nonlinear journey
|nonlinear change
Temas
personal_development
|health
|business
|learning
|life
Ejemplos
- Language learning is nonlinear; you may improve quickly, plateau, and then improve again.
- Recovery from burnout is often nonlinear, with better weeks and harder weeks.
- The company’s growth was nonlinear, driven by sudden jumps in demand.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Healing can be nonlinear.
- Progress is not always a straight line.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
nonlinear
AFI
GB/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ/
US/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ/
Sílabas y acento
non - lin - ear (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lin)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: nonlinear
- Comparative: nonlinearer
- Superlative: nonlinearest
Expresiones
nonlinear career path
1/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ kɚˈɪɹ pˈæθ/
fixed phrase
business
Career without a straight ladder
A career that changes direction instead of moving up one simple job ladder.
Ejemplos
- She followed a nonlinear career path, moving from nursing to software design and then into management.
- Employers are increasingly open to candidates with nonlinear career paths.
nonlinear equation
1/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ ɪkwˈeɪʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
Equation not mathematically linear
An equation that cannot be treated as a simple straight-line equation.
Ejemplos
- The physics problem leads to a nonlinear equation that must be solved numerically.
- Students first learn linear equations and then move on to nonlinear equations.
nonlinear model
1/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ mˈɑdəl/
fixed phrase
technical
Model using nonlinear relationships
A model for patterns that do not follow a simple straight line.
Ejemplos
- A nonlinear model fit the sales data better than a simple straight-line trend.
- The researchers built a nonlinear model to describe how the drug affects the body.
nonlinear narrative
1/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ nˈɛɹɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
Story out of time order
A story that does not tell events from first to last in time order.
Ejemplos
- The movie uses a nonlinear narrative, so the ending is shown near the beginning.
- Her novel’s nonlinear narrative moves between three different decades.
nonlinear regression
1/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ ɹɪɡɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
Statistical nonlinear model fitting
A statistics method for fitting data when a straight-line model is not suitable.
Ejemplos
- The team used nonlinear regression to estimate the reaction rate.
- Nonlinear regression can model curves that ordinary linear regression cannot capture.
nonlinear relationship
1/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ ɹilˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
technical
Not a proportional relationship
A connection where one thing does not change in a simple, constant way with another.
Ejemplos
- Researchers found a nonlinear relationship between stress and performance.
- The nonlinear relationship means a small price cut can sometimes produce a large increase in sales.
nonlinear system
1/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ sˈɪstəm/
fixed phrase
technical
System with nonproportional responses
A system where small changes can sometimes have unexpectedly large or complex effects.
Ejemplos
- Weather is a nonlinear system, which is one reason long-term forecasts are difficult.
- In a nonlinear system, a tiny change in starting conditions can lead to a very different outcome.
nonlinear thinking
1/nɑnlˈɪnˌiɚ θˈɪŋkɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Thinking in multiple paths
Thinking that moves between ideas freely instead of following one straight path.
Ejemplos
- Brainstorming sessions can encourage nonlinear thinking and unexpected solutions.
- Her nonlinear thinking helped the team connect problems from different departments.