a·lign

(ə-līn′)

v. a·ligned, a·lign·ing, a·ligns

v.tr.

1. To arrange in a line or so as to be parallel: align the tops of a row of pictures; aligned the car with the curb.

2. To adjust (parts of a mechanism, for example) to produce a proper relationship or orientation: aligning the wheels of a truck.

3. To ally (oneself, for example) with one side of an argument or cause: aligned themselves with the free traders.

v.intr.

1. To adhere to a prescribed course of action.

2. To move or be adjusted into proper relationship or orientation.

[French aligner, from Old French : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + ligne, line (from Latin līnea; see line¹).]

a·lign′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.

aligning - causing to fall into line or into position

positioning

orientating, orienting - positioning with respect to a reference system or determining your bearings physically or intellectually; "noticed the bee's momentary orienting pause before heading back to the hive"; "an orienting program for new employees"

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References in periodicals archive

There appears to be growing interest in aligning into competency-based organizations.

Developing a competency-based organization: applying the Navy's uniformed human capital concepts to the civilian workforce

Rather than aligning one spin in a million as standard NMR does, this processes aligns the spins of almost one in three xenon nuclei.

Probing chemical signatures in an earthy way

Put a single person in charge of aligning strategies, actions and performance management.

Get into the value habit: knowing what makes your company valuable is important, but it's not enough. Getting from "knowing" to "doing" requires real change. Here are eight behaviors that have helped organizations bridge the "knowing-doing" gap

In a conversation published in the November 2003 edition of Baptists Today, a publication of the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Carter reflected on his lifelong commitment to religious liberty and criticized the current leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention for aligning with conservative Republicans.

Carter backs separation of church and state, chides Southern Baptists

What is the task of leadership communication in aligning mindsets and behaviours?

CEO communication: if you want them to listen, speak their language

The initial high rating with respect to this category is not surprising given that the assessment portion of the workshops had already addressed the importance of aligning tasks with the algebra standard prior to the first submission.

Improving classroom assessment practices: a collaborative approach

Although aligning the curriculum with standards was always painstaking and time-consuming work, the results were worth the effort in comparing what we did in our classrooms with other states.

Setting effective standards: online resources make alignment with standards easy and effective. (the online edge)