command

1 noun

1 ORDER (C) an order that should be obeyed: Fire when I give the command.

2 CONTROL (U) the control of a group of people or a situation: be in command: Judge Hathaway was in complete command of the courtroom. | have sth under your command: We suspect that Don Sacco has several gangs under his command. | take command (=begin controlling and making decisions): Janet took command of the situation and got everyone out of the building safely. | at sb's command (=available to be used by someone whenever they want): Each congressman has a large staff at his command. | have command: Flynn had command of a squadron on the Western Front.

3 MILITARY (countable also + plural verb BrE)

a) a part of an army, navy etc that is controlled separately and has a particular job: pilots of the Southern Air Command

b) a group of officers or officials who give orders: Are you criticizing the High Command?

c) the group of soldiers that an officer is in control of

4 have (a) command of to have a good knowledge of something, especially a subject such as a language: Jill has an impressive command of French.

5 COMPUTER (C) an instruction to a computer to do something

6 at your command if you have a particular skill at your command, you are able to use that skill well and easily: a carpenter with years of experience at his command

7 be in command of yourself/your faculties to be able to control your emotions and thoughts: Kathleen walked in, tall, slim, confident and in total command of herself.

2 verb

1 ORDER (I, T) to tell someone officially to do something, especially if you are a military leader, a king etc: command sb to do sth: Captain Picard commanded the crew to report to the main deck. | command that: The General commanded that the regiment attack at once.

2 LEAD THE MILITARY (I, T) to be responsible for giving orders to a group of people in the army, navy etc: He commands the 4th Battalion of the Scots Guard.

3 DESERVE AND GET to get something such as attention or respect because you are important or popular: Dr. Young commands a great deal of respect as a surgeon. | "Supermodels" can command extremely high fees.

4 (T) CONTROL to control something: The party which commands a majority of seats in Parliament forms the government.

5 VIEW if a place commands a view, you can see something clearly from it: The Ramses Hilton commands a magnificent view of Cairo.