align

verb

Sayuh-LYN/əˈlaɪn/

7 meanings of align

1
verbtransitive
To move things so they form a straight line.
Like lining up your toys so they make one neat row.
Please align the chairs in a straight row before the meeting.
He aligned the books neatly along the shelf.
Similarstraighten
2
verbintransitive
To move into a straight line with others.
Like birds settling into a neat row on a wire.
The students align in a row before class starts.
The cars aligned neatly at the starting line.
Note
3
verbintransitivereflexive
To support or agree with the ideas or actions of a person or group.
Like choosing to stand on the same side as your friends.
Many young voters align with parties that promise change.
She aligned with her coworkers in asking for better pay.
Similarsupport, ally
Oppositeoppose
Note
4
verbtransitive
To arrange things so they fit together or match well.
Like setting all the clocks in a house to the same time.
We need to align our plans so everyone works together.
The teacher aligned the lessons with the new test.
Similarcoordinate, harmonize, synchronize
5
verbtransitive
To store computer data so each piece starts at a set point in memory.
Like parking cars so each one starts exactly at the line of its own space.
Compilers often align data to help programs run faster.
The system aligned each value before storing it.
Note
6
verbtransitive
To line up DNA, RNA, or protein sequences so their matching parts sit together.
Like placing two sentences side by side to spot the words they share.
Scientists align the two gene sequences to find their shared parts.
The program aligned the proteins to show where they matched.
Note
7
verbtransitive
To match up items in different databases that point to the same real thing.
Like noticing that 'Bob Smith' in one list and 'Robert Smith' in another are the same person.
We align records so each customer appears only once.
The system aligns names in two lists that mean the same person.
Similarmatch
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through French from Latin words meaning to make straight, based on linea, meaning 'line'.