Standard Lemma guide

ordinate

adj · noun · verb · 16 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɔː(ɹ)dɪnət/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈɔː(ɹ)dɪneɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Observant of order, keeping within set limits; moderate, temperate

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tidy, orderly, regular

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Conforming to order or rule, ordered, regulated, regular, orderly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Examples

  • ordinate power

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Arranged regularly in a row or rows.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

Topics: biology, entomology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Of a figure: having all its sides and angles equal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: geometry, mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Relating to an ordered series of ratios.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: mathematics, sciences

Examples

  • ordinate proportionality; ordinate proportion

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

The second of the two terms by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: geometry, mathematics, sciences

Examples

  • Coordinate term: abscissa
  • The point (3,2) has 3 as its abscissa and 2 as its ordinate.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: coordinate

7

noun

Meaning 7

The vertical line representing an axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, on which the ordinate (sense above) is shown.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: geometry, mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: axis

8

verb

Meaning 8

To align a series of objects.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To ordain a priest, or consecrate a bishop.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive, uncommon

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ordain

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To order or regulate; to control, govern, or direct.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To institute, establish; to ordain; to predestine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To subject to the mathematical operation of ordination.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: biology, ecology, mathematics, natural-sciences, sciences, statistics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

past participle of ordinate

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, obsolete, participle, past

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

the value of a coordinate on the vertical axis

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: Cartesian coordinate

15

verb

Meaning 15

bring (components or parts) into proper or desirable coordination correlation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • align the wheels of my car
  • ordinate similar parts

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: align, coordinate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: adjust, set, correct

Narrower terms: misalign

16

verb

Meaning 16

appoint to a clerical posts

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he was ordained in the Church

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ordain, consecrate, order

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: invest, vest, enthrone

History

Etymology

Partly inherited from Middle English ordinat(e) (adjective and participle), partly directly borrowed from Latin ōrdinātus, perfect passive participle of ōrdinō, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). Doublet of ordain. Sense 5 of the verb is from a back-formation from ordination.

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: подреде́н (podredén) — arranged regularly in rows; orderly; disposed or arranged in an orderly or regular fashion.
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ordnet — arranged regularly in rows; orderly; disposed or arranged in an orderly or regular fashion.
  • Spanish: ordenado — arranged regularly in rows; orderly; disposed or arranged in an orderly or regular fashion.
  • Armenian: օրդինատ (ōrdinat) — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Azerbaijani: ordinat — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Bulgarian: ордина́та (ordináta) — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Catalan: ordenada — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Chinese Mandarin: 縱坐標 /纵坐标 (zòngzuòbiāo) — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Dutch: ordinaat — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Finnish: ordinaatta — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • French: ordonnée — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • German: Ordinate — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Greek: τεταγμένη (tetagméni) — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Italian: ordinata — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Japanese: 縦座標 (tatezahyō) — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Polish: rzędna — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Portuguese: ordenada — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Russian: ордина́та (ordináta) — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Spanish: ordenada — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Tagalog: tayuwat — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Vietnamese: tung độ — y coordinate; second of two coordinates
  • Bulgarian: ордина́та f ордина́тна ос (ordináta) — vertical axis
  • German: Hochachse — vertical axis
  • Japanese: 縦軸 (tatejiku) — vertical axis
  • Polish: rzędna — vertical axis
  • Bulgarian: ръкопола́гам (rǎkopolágam) — to ordain a priest or consecrate a bishop
  • Hebrew: הִסְמִיךְ (hismích) — to ordain a priest or consecrate a bishop
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ordinere — to ordain a priest or consecrate a bishop
  • Polish: święcić — to ordain a priest or consecrate a bishop
  • Polish: wyświęcić — to ordain a priest or consecrate a bishop
  • Spanish: ordenar — to ordain a priest or consecrate a bishop
  • Spanish: tonsurar — to ordain a priest or consecrate a bishop
  • Spanish: ordinar — to ordain a priest or consecrate a bishop
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ordne — to align a series of objects
  • Polish: równać — to align a series of objects
  • Polish: wyrównać — to align a series of objects
  • Spanish: alinear — to align a series of objects