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v. com·mand·ed, com·mand·ing, com·mands v.tr. 1. To direct with authority; give orders to. 2. To have control or authority over; rule: a general who commands an army. 3. To have at one's disposal: a person who commands seven languages. 4. To deserve and receive as due; exact: The troops' bravery commanded respect. 5. a. To exercise dominating, authoritative influence over: "He commands any room he enters" (Stephen Schiff). b. To dominate by physical position; overlook: a mountain commanding the valley below. v.intr. 1. To give orders. 2. To exercise authority or control as or as if one is a commander. n. 1. The act of commanding. 2. An order given with authority. 3. Computers A signal that initiates an operation defined by an instruction. 4. a. The authority to command: an admiral in command. b. Possession and exercise of the authority to command: command of the seas. 5. Ability to control or use; mastery: command of four languages. 6. Dominance by location; extent of view. 7. a. The jurisdiction of a commander. b. A military unit, post, district, or region under the control of one officer. c. A unit of the US Air Force that is larger than an air force. adj. 1. Of, relating to, or constituting a command: command headquarters; a command decision. 2. Done or performed in response to a command: a command performance. [Middle English commaunden, from Old French comander, from Late Latin commandāre : Latin com-, intensive pref.; see COM- + Latin mandāre, to entrust; see man-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] com·manda·ble adj. |
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