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co·or·di·nate (kō-ôrdn-ĭt, -āt)
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n.
1. Mathematics Any of a set of two or more numbers used to determine the position of a point, line, curve, or plane in a space of a given dimension with respect to a system of lines or other fixed references.
2. coordinates Informal Directions: Give me some coordinates so I can find my way.
3. coordinates A set of articles, as of clothing or luggage, designed to match or complement one other, as in style or color.
adj.
1.
a. Of equal importance, rank, or degree: jobs with coordinate responsibilities.
b. Grammar Having equal syntactic status; not subordinate: coordinate phrases.
2. Mathematics Of or based on a system of coordinates.
3. Of or relating to a university in which men and women are taught by the same faculty but in single-sex classes or on single-sex campuses.
v. (-āt) co·or·di·nat·ed, co·or·di·nat·ing, co·or·di·nates
v.tr.
1. To cause to work or function in a common action or effort: coordinating the moving parts of a machine.
2. To make harmonious; harmonize: coordinate the colors of a design.
3. Grammar To link (syntactic units) at an equal level.
v.intr.
1. To work or function together harmoniously: a nursing staff that coordinates smoothly.
2. To form a harmonious combination; match: shoes that coordinate with the rest of the outfit.


co·ordi·nate·ly (-ĭt-lē) adv.
co·ordi·nate·ness (-ĭt-nĭs) n.
co·ordi·native adj.
co·ordi·nator n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.