DictionaryorderSystematic arrangement
noun / verb

order

An organized arrangement or system.

She keeps the files in alphabetical order for easy reference.

Etymology

Latin ordo means a row, arrangement, or rank. The general system sense preserves the idea of parts placed in a recognized relationship.

More examples

  • We order the photographs by date.
  • The monks belong to a religious order.
  • In biology, an order ranks below a class and above a family.

Forms

order · orders · ordered · ordering

orderly adjective — Arranged neatly or following a system.

Similar words

arrangement
Emphasizes how things are placed relative to one another.
sequence
Specifies the order in which things follow one another.
system
Emphasizes connected parts working together under a common plan.