I. or ‧ der ‧ ly 1 /ˈɔːdəli $ ˈɔːrdərli/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ order ≠ ↑ disorder , ↑ ordering ; adjective : ↑ ordered ≠ ↑ disordered , ↑ orderly ≠ ↑ disorderly ; verb : ↑ order ]
1 . arranged or organized in a sensible or neat way OPP disorderly
in (an) orderly something
The tools were arranged in orderly rows.
She needs to organize her ideas in a more orderly way.
2 . peaceful or well behaved OPP disorderly
in (an) orderly something
The elections were conducted in an orderly fashion.
They waited in a dignified and orderly manner outside the church.
—orderliness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
▪ tidy British English a place, room etc that is tidy looks nice because everything has been arranged and put in the right place:
a tidy desk
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I want to leave the place clean and tidy before we go.
▪ neat use this about things that are carefully arranged in a way that is nice to look at:
a neat pile of towels
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The room was neat and tidy.
▪ immaculate /ɪˈmækjələt, ɪˈmækjʊlət/ a place or thing that is immaculate is perfectly clean and neat – use this to emphasize how clean something looks:
Our house was always immaculate.
▪ well-kept a well-kept building or garden is very well cared for and looks neat and clean:
a large house on well-kept grounds
▪ orderly arranged or organized in a sensible or neat way:
The room was orderly and uncluttered.
II. orderly 2 BrE AmE noun ( plural orderlies ) [countable]
1 . someone who does unskilled jobs in a hospital
2 . a soldier who does unskilled jobs