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Glite Dictionary
rectilineal

rectilineal

9.8
Made of straight lines or moving in straight lines
  • adjective
  • /ˌrɛktɪˈlɪniəl/
translation icon : rectilíneo
  • Many city streets are laid out in a rectilineal grid pattern.

Examples

  • Light often travels in a rectilineal path unless reflected or refracted.

  • The artist favored rectilineal designs in his modern sculptures.

  • The rectilineal path of the car was easy to follow.

  • He prefers rectilineal designs in architecture.

  • Light often travels in a rectilineal path unless reflected or refracted.

  • Many city streets are laid out in a rectilineal grid pattern.

  • The artist favored rectilineal designs in his modern sculptures.

Synonyms

straight
vsrectilineal
∞ 1.0

In a direct line without turning

is used more generally for forms or motion that avoid curves
linear
vsrectilineal
24 4.4

Having the shape of a straight line or measured in one direction

emphasizes actual form or motion that lacks any curve
rectilinear
vsrectilineal
1 8.9

A shape or movement that has straight lines rather than curves

is the general term for having form or motion without curves
lineal
vsrectilineal
7.5

Arranged in a straight line

applies more broadly to form or motion that shows no curves

Antonyms

curvilinear
1 7.9

Having curved lines

How Straight

rectilineal
9.8
bent
21 1.0
curved
6 1.0
wavy
16 1.3

Surface Forms

rectilineal positive

Morphology

rectilineal = lineal (semi-transparent) = recti + lineal + line

The element 'recti-' implies straight and combines with the recognizable adjective 'lineal' to give 'straight-line', but 'recti-' is an uncommon combining form in English so learners may not infer the meaning fully.

Etymology

Rectilineal comes from Latin parts recti- meaning 'straight' and line meaning 'line', like in rectangle and linear. So a rectilineal path is one that moves 'in straight lines'.