noun
also aline·ment -nmənt
( -s )
Etymology: French alignement, from Middle French, from aligner + -ment
1. : the act of aligning or state of being aligned
2.
a. : a forming in line (as of troops)
b. : the line thus formed ; specifically : an arrangement of soldiers in a line or lines
3. : the ground plan (as of a railroad or fieldwork) in distinction from the profile
4.
a. : the condition of being properly aligned : the condition of being in satisfactory adjustment or of having the parts in proper relative position
b. : the correct positioning of printed characters in horizontal lines and vertical columns
5. dancing : the reference of body movement to a vertical axis or directive horizontal line