coordinate
coordinate — adjective
1. having the same level of importance, authority, or status as something else with
having the same level of importance, authority, or status as something else within a system or organisation.
In the new structure, the marketing and sales directors hold coordinate positions.
The two committees have coordinate authority, so neither one can overrule the other.
coordinate + noun phrase for equal-status roles
Ryo and Selim are coordinate managers, each responsible for a different regional office.
A coordinate partnership meant that every decision required agreement from both sides.
- subordinate
implies a lower rank or position in a hierarchy
用法筆記
Primarily used in formal or technical contexts such as business structures, government, or academic hierarchies. In everyday conversation, 'equal' or 'on the same level' is more common.
2. connected to another part of a sentence by a coordinating conjunction such as 'a
connected to another part of a sentence by a coordinating conjunction such as 'and' or 'but', with each part carrying equal grammatical weight.
In the sentence 'She laughed and he cried', the verbs 'laughed' and 'cried' are coordinate.
coordinate verbs joined by 'and'
Coordinate adjectives both modify the same noun, as in 'a bright, sunny day'.
The grammar book explains that 'for' and 'yet' can also join coordinate clauses.
Élise wrote two coordinate clauses separated by a comma and the word 'but'.
- coordinating
more common in everyday grammar teaching; e.g. 'coordinating conjunction'
- subordinate
describes a clause that depends on the main clause and cannot stand alone
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in grammar textbooks and linguistics. In everyday descriptions of sentence structure, 'coordinating' is more common — for example, 'coordinating conjunction' rather than 'coordinate conjunction'.
coordinate — noun
1. a value, typically a number or a letter, that pinpoints where something is situa
a value, typically a number or a letter, that pinpoints where something is situated on a map, graph, or grid.
The hiker entered the coordinates into her GPS device before setting off.
coordinates + GPS / navigation context
Ife plotted the points using the x and y coordinates from the table.
Each square on the treasure map is labelled with a unique pair of coordinates.
The pilot checked the coordinates of the runway on her navigation screen before landing.
Faisal marked the campsite on his phone using the coordinates from the park map.
- grid reference
more specific to maps; less common in mathematics
用法筆記
Coordinates are usually written inside parentheses, for example (40°N, 74°W) or (3, 5). The word is most common in geography, mathematics, and aviation contexts. Learners often treat it as countable — 'a coordinate' for one value, 'coordinates' for a pair or set.
常見錯誤
2. a set of clothing items, especially for women, whose colours and styles are desi
a set of clothing items, especially for women, whose colours and styles are designed as a group so that every piece works well when worn together.
Mayumi bought a navy blue coordinate consisting of a jacket and matching trousers.
coordinate consisting of [items]
The store window displayed a summer coordinate in soft pink and creamy white.
Eve wore a linen coordinate to the garden party and received many compliments.
Jabari's sister chose a cream-coloured coordinate for her job interview outfit.
- ensemble
broader term for any matching set; more formal and not restricted to women's clothing
- matching set
more casual; can also refer to accessories or homeware
用法筆記
Most commonly used in fashion retail. A coordinate typically includes two or three pieces — for instance, a jacket and skirt, or a top and trousers. In British English, 'co-ordinate' is sometimes spelled with a hyphen.
coordinate — verb
1. to get people or processes to act together towards a shared goal by organising t
to get people or processes to act together towards a shared goal by organising their tasks carefully.
Emily coordinated the volunteers for the annual school fair.
The team leader coordinated the rescue effort after the earthquake.
coordinate + group task or project
Sivan coordinated the catering, music, and seating arrangements for the wedding.
Learning to coordinate your arms and legs when swimming takes patience.
The company hired a project manager to coordinate work across all departments.
- organise
broader meaning that covers the whole planning process from start to finish
- orchestrate
more figurative; suggests directing a complex situation with skill
- arrange
focuses on putting things in a particular order or sequence
- disrupt
to prevent something from working smoothly or effectively
文法句型
coordinate + noun phrase (people/activities)
coordinate + noun phrase (body parts)
用法筆記
Frequently followed by a direct object naming the people, tasks, or body parts being arranged. When talking about body movement, the object is typically two or more body parts. The intransitive use describes things working together on their own — e.g. 'The dancers' arms and legs coordinated beautifully.'
常見錯誤
2. to combine items such as clothes, furniture, or colours in a way that creates an
to combine items such as clothes, furniture, or colours in a way that creates an attractive overall look when placed or worn together.
Ada chose curtains that coordinate with the sofa's fabric.
coordinate with + noun phrase
The interior designer coordinated the dining chairs and the table in warm wood tones.
Ignacio's tie and shirt coordinated perfectly with his grey suit.
These velvet cushions coordinate well with the striped wallpaper in the living room.
- clash
describes colours or styles that look wrong or unattractive together
文法句型
coordinate + noun phrase + with + noun phrase
coordinate with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used with the preposition 'with' to specify which two items go well together. This sense is most common in fashion retail, interior design, and home decoration contexts. When used intransitively, the subject names two or more items being compared.