Library / English Dictionary

COMMAND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Availability for use

Example:

the materials at the command of the potters grew

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("command" is a kind of...):

accessibility; availability; availableness; handiness (the quality of being at hand when needed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The power or authority to command

Example:

an admiral in command

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("command" is a kind of...):

authorisation; authority; authorization; dominance; potency; say-so (the power or right to give orders or make decisions)

Derivation:

command (be in command of)

command (exercise authoritative control or power over)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity

Example:

a good command of French

Synonyms:

command; control; mastery

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("command" is a kind of...):

skillfulness (the state of being cognitively skillful)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(computer science) a line of code written as part of a computer program

Synonyms:

command; instruction; program line; statement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("command" is a kind of...):

code; computer code ((computer science) the symbolic arrangement of data or instructions in a computer program or the set of such instructions)

Domain category:

computer science; computing (the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "command"):

call (an instruction that interrupts the program being executed)

command line (commands that a user types in order to run an application)

link ((computing) an instruction that connects one part of a program or an element on a list to another program or list)

macro; macro instruction (a single computer instruction that results in a series of instructions in machine language)

system error (an instruction that is either not recognized by an operating system or is in violation of the procedural rules)

toggle (any instruction that works first one way and then the other; it turns something on the first time it is used and then turns it off the next time)

Holonyms ("command" is a part of...):

computer program; computer programme; program; programme ((computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An authoritative direction or instruction to do something

Synonyms:

bid; bidding; command; dictation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("command" is a kind of...):

speech act (the use of language to perform some act)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "command"):

open sesame (a magical command; used by Ali Baba)

behest (an authoritative command or request)

injunction (a formal command or admonition)

commandment (something that is commanded)

charge; commission; direction (a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something)

order ((often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed)

countermand (a contrary command cancelling or reversing a previous command)

Derivation:

command (make someone do something)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A military unit or region under the control of a single officer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("command" is a kind of...):

force; military force; military group; military unit (a unit that is part of some military service)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "command"):

ACC; Air Combat Command (a command that is the primary provider of air combat weapon systems to the United States Air Force; operates fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, battle-management, and rescue aircraft)

AFSPC; Air Force Space Command (a command of the United States Air Force that is responsible for defending the United States through its space and intercontinental ballistic missile operations)

Derivation:

command (be in command of)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A position of highest authority

Example:

the corporation has just undergone a change in command

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("command" is a kind of...):

position; status (the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society)

Derivation:

command (be in command of)

command (exercise authoritative control or power over)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make someone do something

Synonyms:

command; require

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "command" is one way to...):

enjoin; order; say; tell (give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "command"):

burden; charge; saddle (impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to)

requisition (make a formal request for official services)

disallow; forbid; interdict; nix; prohibit; proscribe; veto (command against)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They command him to write the letter

Derivation:

command (an authoritative direction or instruction to do something)

commandment (something that is commanded)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be in command of

Example:

The general commanded a huge army

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "command" is one way to...):

dominate; master (have dominance or the power to defeat over)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "command"):

officer (direct or command as an officer)

general (command as a general)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

commander (an officer in command of a military unit)

commander (a commissioned naval officer who ranks above a lieutenant commander and below a captain)

commander (someone in an official position of authority who can command or control others)

commander (an officer in the airforce)

commandant (an officer in command of a military unit)

command (a position of highest authority)

command (a military unit or region under the control of a single officer)

command (the power or authority to command)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Demand as one's due

Example:

The author commands a fair hearing from his readers

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "command" is one way to...):

demand; exact (claim as due or just)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Exercise authoritative control or power over

Example:

Command the military forces

Synonyms:

command; control

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "command"):

call the shots; call the tune; wear the trousers (exercise authority or be in charge)

govern; rule (exercise authority over; as of nations)

becharm; charm (control by magic spells, as by practicing witchcraft)

dominate; master (have dominance or the power to defeat over)

preside (act as president)

corner (gain control over)

draw rein; harness; rein; rein in (control and direct with or as if by reins)

monopolise; monopolize (have and control fully and exclusively)

regiment (subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization)

govern (direct or strongly influence the behavior of)

hold sway (be master; reign or rule)

hold (take and maintain control over, often by violent means)

internationalise; internationalize (put under international control)

care; deal; handle; manage (be in charge of, act on, or dispose of)

hold one's own (maintain one's position and be in control of a situation)

steer (direct (oneself) somewhere)

channelise; channelize; direct; guide; head; maneuver; manoeuver; manoeuvre; point; steer (direct the course; determine the direction of travelling)

preoccupy (engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

command (the power or authority to command)

command (a position of highest authority)

commandant (an officer in command of a military unit)

commander (an officer in the airforce)

commander (someone in an official position of authority who can command or control others)

commander (a commissioned naval officer who ranks above a lieutenant commander and below a captain)

commander (an officer in command of a military unit)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Look down on

Example:

The villa dominates the town

Synonyms:

command; dominate; overlook; overtop

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "command" is one way to...):

lie (be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "command"):

dwarf; overshadow; shadow (make appear small by comparison)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

The serious critic, with the sense of humour and the power of expression, must inevitably command the world’s ear.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"Leave him alone," Hans commanded harshly, in a strange voice.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I should like, for example, to see how far the windows of the bedrooms command the front.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That beats any salary I can command.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

This morning, when I went to see him after his repulse of Van Helsing, his manner was that of a man commanding destiny.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

She was without any power, because she was without any desire of command over herself.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

You will have as free a command of the park and gardens as ever.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Considering the very superior claims of the object, it ought; and judging by its apparently stronger effect on Harriet's mind, producing reserve and self-command, it would.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Every brain cell has a nucleus, or a central command station.

(Scientists uncover nuclear process in the brain that may affect disease, NIH)