# command

Pronunciation: US say "kuh-MAND" /kəˈmænd/; UK say "kuh-MAHND" /kəˈmɑːnd/

## Noun

1. An instruction given by someone in authority telling another person what to do.
   - Simple: An instruction telling someone what they must do.
   - _The sergeant's command echoed across the parade ground._
   - _At the captain's command, the rowers lifted their oars together._
2. An instruction given to a computer program to make it perform a specific task.
   - Simple: An instruction you give a computer to make it do a task.
   - _The command copies every file from one folder to another._
   - _Developers typed a single command to restart the server._
4. Authority to give orders and control others, or the position of being in charge.
   - Simple: The power to give orders and be in charge of people or things.
   - _Command of the regiment was a post earned through decades of service._
   - _She rose steadily until she held command at headquarters._
7. Control over a situation, or thorough knowledge or mastery of a skill, subject, or language.
   - Simple: Full control of a situation, or great skill with something such as a language or subject.
   - _Her command of the subject impressed the examiners._
   - _Years of practice gave him complete command of the instrument._
9. A body of troops, or any naval or military force, under the control of a particular officer.
   - Simple: A group of soldiers or ships that one officer is in charge of.
   - _The colonel inspected his command before dawn._
   - _A naval command of twelve ships patrolled the coast._
10. A pitcher's degree of control over the location of their pitches.
   - Simple: How well a pitcher can throw the ball exactly where they want it to go.
   - _Her command of the strike zone improved dramatically over the season._
   - _Even with a blazing fastball, he struggled with command all night._
11. A performance given at the express request of a monarch or other dignitary.
   - Simple: A show put on because an important person, like a king or queen, asked for it.
   - _The orchestra delivered a flawless command performance before the royal family._
   - _Few actors are ever invited to give a command performance at the palace._

## Verb

3. To give orders to someone; to compel or direct people with authority.
   - Simple: To tell someone with authority that they must do something.
   - _You can't simply command teenagers to clean their rooms and expect them to obey._
   - _The guard commanded us to stop and show our passes._
5. To have authority over and control of something, especially a military force, resources, or territory.
   - Simple: To be in charge of something, such as an army, and control it.
   - _He commands the largest division in the army._
   - _Officers who command warships train for years._
6. To secure or be worth something, such as respect or a high price, through influence or merit.
   - Simple: To be worth or able to get something because of how good or respected you are.
   - _Rare first editions command staggering sums among collectors._
   - _His calm authority commanded the respect of everyone in the room._
8. To dominate or control something through ability, resources, or position; also, to overlook from above.
   - Simple: To control something because of your skill, money, or position, or to be high above a place and look over it.
   - _Companies that command their industries can dictate terms to suppliers._
   - _The ancient citadel commands the harbor from its rocky perch._

## Verb

12. To have a view of a place, as seen from a higher or superior position. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To look out over a place from somewhere high up.
   - _From the masthead the lookout could command the whole bay and every sail upon it._
   - _From the tower, the old watchman could command every road into the valley._
13. To summon someone or something to come, or to bestow something on a person. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To send for someone or something to come, or to give something as a gift.

## Origin

From Middle English commanden, from Old French comander, from Late Latin commandāre, itself from Latin commendāre. It ultimately goes back to Latin com- plus mandō (also the source of commend, mandate, and recommend), from manus ('hand') plus -dō.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/command (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).