Dictionary

alignment en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /əˈlaɪn.mənt/ (New-Zealand)
• /əˈlaɪn.mənt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (California) audio
• /əˈlɑen.mənt/ (Australia)
• [əˈlɑe̯n.mənt] (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From French alignement, by surface analysis, align + -ment.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) An arrangement of items in a line.
2. (countable, uncountable) The process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned; the condition of having its parts so adjusted.
3. (countable, uncountable) An alliance of factions.
4. (countable, qualifier:artificial intelligence, uncountable) The goals and values of an artificial intelligence, considered relative to human ethical standards.
   • the alignment problem
   • The issue of chatbot responses that veer into strange territory is widely known among researchers. In an interview last week, Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, said improving what's known as "alignment" — how the responses safely reflect a user's will — was "one of these must-solve problems." 2023 February 16, Karen Weise, “Microsoft Considers More Limits for Its New A.I. Chatbot”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2023:
   • But many in the field are concerned that Big Tech companies are sidelining alignment research efforts in the race to keep building and releasing the technology into the world. 2023 February 17, Billy Perrigo, “The New AI-Powered Bing Is Threatening Users. That's No Laughing Matter”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Feb 2023:
   • It turns out that there’s little overlap between the communities concerned primarily with such short-term risks and those who worry more about longer-term alignment risks. 2022 December 13, Melanie Mitchell, “What Does It Mean to Align AI With Human Values?”, in Quanta Magazine, New York, N.Y.: Simons Foundation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Mar 2023:
   • the alignment tax
5. (countable, qualifier:roleplaying games, uncountable) One of a set number of moral positions or philosophies a character can take.
   • an alignment chart
6. (countable, uncountable) The conjunction of two celestial objects.
7. (countable, uncountable) The precise route or course taken by a linear way (road, railway, footpath, etc.) between two points.
8. (countable, uncountable) A way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences in order to identify regions of similarity.
9. (countable, qualifier:urban studies, uncountable) A ground plan of a canal or road.

Forms

Deriveds

realignment · prealignment · superalignment · subalignment · overalignment · vertical alignment · alignment diagram · hyperalignment · autoalignment · disalignment · stone alignment · dealignment · malalignment · multialignment · frame-alignment recovery time · nonalignment · postalignment · non-alignment · coalignment · time alignment · pseudoalignment · antialignment · alignment problem · misalignment · entity alignment · ontology alignment · unalignment · alignment tax · waterfowl alignment · alignment chart · photoalignment

Translations (103)

it congiunzione (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · cmn 連珠 /连珠 (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · de Fraktion (3. alliance of factions) · cs adjustace (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · cs seřazení (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · fr conjonction (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · fr alignement (8. a way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences) · gl alianza (3. alliance of factions) · th การปรับแนว (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · gl aliñamento (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · ru альянс (3. alliance of factions) · it orientamento (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · gl aliñamento (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · es alineación (1. arrangement of items in a line) · id alinyemen (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · ca alineació (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · th การปรับตรง (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · de Parteiengemeinschaft (3. alliance of factions) · ca alineació (1. arrangement of items in a line) · ru выра́внивание (1. arrangement of items in a line) · hu csoportosulás (3. alliance of factions) · nn trase (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · hu igazítás (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · nb trasé (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · de Konjunktion (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · ro ajustare (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · cs seřazení do řady (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · de gerader Streckenverlauf (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · de Einstellung (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · id kesegarisan (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · ro aliniere (1. arrangement of items in a line) · ru регулиро́вка (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · gl aliñación (1. arrangement of items in a line) · fi ojennus (3. alliance of factions) · es alineamiento (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · hu összehangolás (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · nb trase (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · sv inpassning (1. arrangement of items in a line) · bg подравняване (1. arrangement of items in a line) · eo aranĝo (1. arrangement of items in a line) · pt aliança (3. alliance of factions) · fr alliance (3. alliance of factions) · id kesegarisan (1. arrangement of items in a line) · de Ausrichtung (1. arrangement of items in a line) · fr alignement (1. arrangement of items in a line) · de Abgleich (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · fi ojennus (1. arrangement of items in a line) · cs zarovnání (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · es alineamiento (8. a way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences) · de Aneinanderreihung (1. arrangement of items in a line) · de Allianz (3. alliance of factions) · gl aliñación (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · cs podpora (3. alliance of factions) · pt alinhamento (1. arrangement of items in a line) · cs uspořádání (1. arrangement of items in a line) · fi kohdistus (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · hu szövetség (3. alliance of factions) · de Gruppierung (3. alliance of factions) · hu tömörülés (3. alliance of factions) · fr ajustage (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · nn trasé (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · gl aliñamento (8. a way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences) · ro aliniere (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · de Justierung (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · cs justáž (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · es alineación (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · ga ailíniú (1. arrangement of items in a line) · it schieramento (3. alliance of factions) · hu beállítás (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · de Ausrichtung (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · fi konjunktio (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · de Konstellation (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · cs seřazení (1. arrangement of items in a line) · cs příklon (3. alliance of factions) · pt alinhamento (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · id trase (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · lt lygiavimas (1. arrangement of items in a line) · ca alineament (1. arrangement of items in a line) · cs zákryt (1. arrangement of items in a line) · ro aliniament (1. arrangement of items in a line) · ro traseu (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · pt alinhamento (8. a way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences) · de Ausrichtung (3. alliance of factions) · sv inpassning (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · it allineamento (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · cs zarovnání (1. arrangement of items in a line) · it allineamento (8. a way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences) · fi linjaus (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · fi yhteensovittaminen (8. a way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences) · ro aliniament (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.) · gl aliñamento (1. arrangement of items in a line) · cs uspořádání (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · hu együttállás (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · cs konjunkce (6. astronomy: conjunction of two celestial objects) · de Aufreihung (1. arrangement of items in a line) · es alineamiento (1. arrangement of items in a line) · it allineamento (1. arrangement of items in a line) · cmn 對齊 /对齐 (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · de Zusammenschluss (3. alliance of factions) · ga ailíniú (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · pt alinhamento (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · fi kohdistaminen (2. process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned) · fr itinéraire linéaire (7. transport: precise route or course of a road etc.)