command

[kuh-mand, -mahnd] /kəˈmænd, -ˈmɑnd/
verb (used with object)
1.
to direct with specific authority or prerogative; order:
The captain commanded his men to attack.
2.
to require authoritatively; demand:
She commanded silence.
3.
to have or exercise authority or control over; be master of; have at one's bidding or disposal:
The Pharaoh commanded 10,000 slaves.
4.
to deserve and receive (respect, sympathy, attention, etc.):
He commands much respect for his attitude.
5.
to dominate by reason of location; overlook:
The hill commands the sea.
6.
to have authority over and responsibility for (a military or naval unit or installation); be in charge of.
verb (used without object)
7.
to issue an order or orders.
8.
to be in charge; have authority.
9.
to occupy a dominating position; look down upon or over a body of water, region, etc.
noun
10.
the act of commanding or ordering.
11.
an order given by one in authority:
The colonel gave the command to attack.
12.
Military.
  1. an order in prescribed words, usually given in a loud voice to troops at close-order drill: The command was “Right shoulder arms!”.
  2. the order of execution or the second part of any two-part close-order drill command, as face in Right face!
  3. (initial capital letter) a principal component of the U.S. Air Force:
    Strategic Air Command.
  4. a body of troops or a station, ship, etc., under a commander.
13.
the possession or exercise of controlling authority:
a lieutenant in command of a platoon.
14.
expertise; mastery:
He has a command of French, Russian, and German.
15.
British. a royal order.
16.
power of dominating a region by reason of location; extent of view or outlook:
the command of the valley from the hill.
17.
Computers.
  1. an electric impulse, signal, or set of signals for initiating an operation in a computer.
  2. a character, symbol, or item of information for instructing a computer to perform a specific task.
  3. a single instruction.
adjective
18.
of, pertaining to, or for use in the exercise of command:
a command car; command post.
19.
of or pertaining to a commander:
a command decision.
20.
ordered by a sovereign, as if by a sovereign, or by the exigencies of a situation:
a command performance.
Origin
1250-1300; (v.) Middle English coma(u)nden < Anglo-French com(m)a(u)nder, Old French comander < Medieval Latin commandāre, equivalent to Latin com- com- + mandāre to entrust, order (cf. commend); (noun) late Middle English comma(u)nde < Anglo-French, Old French, noun derivative of the v.
Related forms
commandable, adjective
precommand, noun, verb
uncommanded, adjective
well-commanded, adjective
Synonyms
1. bid, demand, charge, instruct, enjoin. See direct. 3. govern, control, oversee, manage, lead. See rule. 4. exact, compel, require, claim, secure. 10. direction, bidding, injunction, charge, mandate, instruction. 13. ascendancy, sway, domination.
Antonyms
1, 7. obey.
Examples from the web for command
  • Broadly speaking, the resets were related to power glitches in the spacecraft's command and data-handling subsystem.
  • Still, the new command structure seemed rife with potential for conflict.
  • There are lots of tasks that can be handled quickly by using the command line.
  • The implication is that the brain only has to send a single move command to the arm, and the arm will do the rest.
  • Guys can lower their brain activity in hunger regions on command.
  • Vintage teddies command prices well into six figures at auction houses.
  • You'll have a private beach, canoes, and kayaks at your command.
  • Before you change anything, run this command and look at the output number.
  • The second in command has more duties and influence than ever before.
  • Military command and control for the hotel industry.
British Dictionary definitions for command

command

/kəˈmɑːnd/
verb
1.
(when transitive, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to order, require, or compel
2.
to have or be in control or authority over (a person, situation, etc)
3.
(transitive) to have knowledge or use of: he commands the language
4.
(transitive) to receive as due or because of merit: his nature commands respect
5.
to dominate (a view, etc) as from a height
noun
6.
an order; mandate
7.
the act of commanding
8.
the power or right to command
9.
the exercise of the power to command
10.
ability or knowledge; control: a command of French
11.
(mainly military) the jurisdiction of a commander
12.
a military unit or units commanding a specific area or function, as in the RAF
13.
(Brit)
  1. an invitation from the monarch
  2. (as modifier): a command performance
14.
(computing) a word or phrase that can be selected from a menu or typed after a prompt in order to carry out an action
Word Origin
C13: from Old French commander, from Latin com- (intensive) + mandāre to entrust, enjoin, command

Command

/kəˈmɑːnd/
noun
1.
any of the three main branches of the Canadian military forces: Air Command
Word Origin and History for command
v.

c.1300, from Old French comander "to order, enjoin, entrust" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *commandare, from Latin commendare "to recommend, entrust to" (see commend), altered by influence of Latin mandare "to commit, entrust" (see mandate (n.)). Replaced Old English bebeodan. Related: Commanded; commanding.

n.

c.1400, "order, command," from Old French comand (14c.), from comander (see command (v.)). Meaning "control, authority" is from mid-15c.

command in Technology

operating system
A character string which tells a program to perform a specific action. Most commands take arguments which either modify the action performed or supply it with input. Commands may be typed by the user or read from a file by a command interpreter. It is also common to refer to menu items as commands.
(1997-06-21)

Idioms and Phrases with command

command

In addition to the idiom beginning with command also see: have a good command