Lineup

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪn.ʌp/

Definitions

1. A coordinated arrangement of people or things set in order for a particular purpose
2. A queue or sequence of individuals or items arranged to await an event or action, often for identification or selection purposes
3. An organized group of participants designated to take part in a specific activity or performance

Etymology: "Lineup" is a deverbal noun, formed by turning the phrasal verb "line up" into a noun. The verb itself is built from the ordinary word "line," meaning a row of things, combined with "up," which here signals bringing things into an orderly arrangement, as in "line up the chairs." Once people began talking about the arrangement itself rather than the act of arranging, the verb's particle became a noun in its own right. The noun carries that original idea of people or things placed in a row or a set order. Its sense then broadened: a sporting side announced before a match, a list of performers on a bill, or a set of suspects gathered for identification all share the notion of a deliberately ordered group. The word's core meaning has stayed close to its physical origin, a set of items positioned in sequence.

Synonyms: array, list, sequence

Antonyms: disarray