Locksteps

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A method of marching or moving in precise unison, often used in military drills or performances
2. A system where individuals or elements operate simultaneously and in coordination, like dancers following a strict routine
3. A synchronized mode of operation where actions are executed in perfect alignment, often metaphorically applied to teamwork or processes

Etymology: "Locksteps" is the plural of "lockstep," a noun formed by joining "lock" and "step." The compound describes the way marchers or workers keep their steps tied together, each foot falling in exact time with the next. The image is one of mechanical interlocking, as if the feet were linked like the parts of a mechanism, so that no one can move out of rhythm without disturbing the whole. Because the base is simply two ordinary English words placed side by side, the sense of the compound is transparent. Its meaning has widened from literal marching in unison to any arrangement in which separate people or parts move together under a fixed pattern.

Synonyms: synchronization, alignment, conformity, agreement, coordination