alignment / line design
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alignment / route
The course or route of a transport connection such as a road, railway line, or bus route.
Die Linienführung der neuen Autobahn wird von Anwohnern stark kritisiert.
The alignment of the new highway is being strongly criticized by local residents.
The word is made up of 'Linie' (line), the linking element -n, and 'Führung' (guidance/leading). So it literally describes the 'guiding of a line'—whether the course of a road or the form of a drawing.
Die klare Linienführung macht das Design sehr modern.
The clear line design makes the design look very modern.
The context reveals the meaning: if it is about 'Straße' (road), 'Bahn' (railway), 'Strecke' (route), or 'Verkehr' (traffic/transport), it means the route or alignment. If it is about 'Kunst' (art), 'Design' (design), 'Architektur' (architecture), or 'Zeichnung' (drawing), it refers to the style.
Die Linienführung der neuen U-Bahn wurde optimiert.
The alignment of the new subway line was optimized.
In the context of transport routes, 'Linienführung' (alignment/route) is often used with verbs such as 'planen' (to plan), 'festlegen' (to determine), 'ändern' (to change), or 'kritisieren' (to criticize).
Bürgerinitiativen kritisieren die geplante Linienführung der Umgehungsstraße.
Citizens' initiatives are criticizing the planned alignment of the bypass road.
In the field of art and design, 'Linienführung' (line design) is often described with aesthetic adjectives. Common ones are 'elegant' (elegant), 'klar' (clear), 'geschwungen' (curved), 'dynamisch' (dynamic), or 'schnörkellos' (unadorned).
Die Architektin ist für ihre elegante Linienführung bekannt.
The architect is known for her elegant line design.
course / gradient
'der Verlauf' and 'die Linienführung' can both describe the path something takes. 'Verlauf' is more general and fits the course of a road, a river, or a border. 'Linienführung' is more precise when referring to the planned or designed route of a transport connection, for example a road, railway line, or bus route. Learners may confuse the words because both refer to a direction or route. 'Verlauf' describes more where something runs along; 'Linienführung' sounds more technical and is especially used in planning, transport, and construction.
Die neue Linienführung der Straßenbahn soll den Bahnhof besser anbinden.
The new tram route is intended to provide better connections to the train station.
Auf der Karte sieht man den Verlauf des Flusses bis zur Stadt.
On the map you can see the course of the river all the way to the city.