collinear

/kəˈlɪniər/

In geometry or algebra, when points are on the same line, they're collinear. Your math teacher might teach you how to graph collinear points.

Although you're most likely to encounter the word collinear in a math textbook, it's sometimes used more generally to mean "in a row." So if you want to sound impressive, you could describe the collinear ducks crossing the street. Mathematically, it's good to know that two points are always collinear, since you can connect them with a straight line. Collinear has its roots in Latin, with the prefix col- meaning "with" and līneāris, "belonging to a line."

Definitions of collinear

1. adjective

   lying on the same line
   synonyms:

   linear, one-dimensional

   of or in or along or relating to a line; involving a single dimension