COMMAND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does command mean? 

• COMMAND (noun)
  The noun COMMAND has 7 senses:

1. an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

2. a military unit or region under the control of a single officer

3. the power or authority to command

4. availability for use

5. a position of highest authority

6. great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity

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

  Familiarity information: COMMAND used as a noun is common.

• COMMAND (verb)
  The verb COMMAND has 5 senses:

1. be in command of

2. make someone do something

3. demand as one's due

4. look down on

5. exercise authoritative control or power over

  Familiarity information: COMMAND used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMMAND (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An authoritative direction or instruction to do something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

bid; bidding; command; dictation

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"):

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

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

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

commandment (something that is commanded)

injunction (a formal command or admonition)

behest (an authoritative command or request)

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

Derivation:

command (make someone do something)

Sense 2

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 3

Meaning:

The power or authority to command

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

an admiral in command

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 (exercise authoritative control or power over)

command (be in command of)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Availability for use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the materials at the command of the potters grew

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

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

A position of highest authority

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

the corporation has just undergone a change in command

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)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

command; control; mastery

Context example:

a good command of French

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

skillfulness (the state of being cognitively skillful)

Sense 7

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

command; instruction; program line; statement

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)

• COMMAND (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be in command of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The general commanded a huge army

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:

commandant; 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)

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 2

Meaning:

Make someone do something

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

command; require

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 3

Meaning:

Demand as one's due

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The author commands a fair hearing from his readers

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

demand; exact (claim as due or just)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Look down on

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

command; dominate; overlook; overtop

Context example:

The villa dominates the town

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

Exercise authoritative control or power over

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

command; control

Context example:

Command the military forces

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

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

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)

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)

 Context examples 

An unhappy culprit, found guilty of imperfect exercise, approaches at his command.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The three ship's anchors were at Sir Nigel's command carried into the waist, and tied to the mast, with twenty feet of cable between, each under the care of four seamen.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Whereupon the emperor his father published an edict, commanding all his subjects, upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their eggs.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

"Go away! Lie down, sir!" Judge Scott commanded.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“T’row down de club,” Perrault commanded.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Hat and coat were off, and every line of the active figure, resolute face, and commanding attitude was full of energy and meaning.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Commands from Miss Ingram's lips would put spirit into a mug of milk and water.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

But I will try to command myself.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

From henceforth I take command of this expedition, and I must ask you to complete your preparations to-night, so that we may be able to make an early start in the morning.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Yet, in spite of his shabby and even absurd appearance, his voice had a sharp crackle, and his manner a quick intensity which commanded attention.

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