1 [mass noun] the arrangement or disposition of people or things in relation to each other according to a particular sequence, pattern, or method:I filed the cards in alphabetical order
a state in which everything is in its correct or appropriate place:she tried to put her shattered thoughts into some semblance of order
a state in which the laws and rules regulating public behaviour are observed and authority is obeyed:the army was deployed to keep order
the prescribed or established procedure followed by a meeting, legislative assembly, debate, or court of law:the meeting was called to order
a stated form of liturgical service, or of administration of a rite, prescribed by ecclesiastical authority.
2an authoritative command or instruction:he was not going to take orders from a mere administrator [with infinitive]:the skipper gave the order to abandon ship
a verbal or written request for something to be made, supplied, or served:the firm has won an order for six tankers
a thing made, supplied, or served as a result of an order:he would deliver special orders for the Sunday dinner
a written direction of a court or judge:she was admitted to hospital under a guardianship order
a written direction to pay money or deliver property.
3a particular social, political, or economic system:they were dedicated to overthrowing the established order
(often orders) a social class:the upper social orders
a rank in the Christian ministry, especially that of bishop, priest, or deacon.
(orders) the rank of a member of the clergy or an ordained minister of the Church:he took priest’s ordersSee also holy orders.
Theology any of the nine grades of angelic beings in the celestial hierarchy as formulated by Pseudo-Dionysius.
4 (also Order) a society of monks, nuns, or friars living under the same religious, moral, and social regulations and discipline:the Franciscan Order
historical a society of knights bound by a common rule of life and having a combined military and monastic character:the Templars were also known as the Order of Christ
an institution founded by a monarch along the lines of a medieval crusading monastic order for the purpose of honouring meritorious conduct.
the insignia worn by members of an order of honour or merit.
a Masonic or similar fraternity.
5 [in singular] the quality or nature of something:poetry of the highest order
[with adjective] the overall state or condition of something:the house had only just been vacated and was in good order
6 Biology a principal taxonomic category that ranks below class and above family:the higher orders of insects
7any of the five classical styles of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite) based on the proportions of columns and the style of their decoration.
any style of architecture subject to uniform established proportions.
8 [mass noun, with modifier] Military equipment or uniform for a specified purpose or of a specified type:the platoon changed from drill order into PT kit
(the order) the position in which a rifle is held after ordering arms.See order arms below.
9 Mathematics the degree of complexity of an equation, expression, etc., as denoted by an ordinal number.
the number of differentiations required to reach the highest derivative in a differential equation.
the number of elements in a finite group.
the number of rows or columns in a square matrix.
ზმნა
Universal
1 [reporting verb] give an authoritative instruction to do something: [with object and infinitive]:she ordered me to leave [with direct speech]:‘Stop frowning,’ he ordered [with clause]:he ordered that the ship be abandoned [with object]:the judge ordered a retrial
[with object] (order someone about/around) continually tell someone to do things in an overbearing way:she resented being ordered about
[with object and complement]North American command (something) to be done or (someone) to be treated in a particular way:he ordered the anchor dropped
2 [with object] request (something) to be made, supplied, or served:my mate ordered the tickets last week [with two objects]:I asked the security guard to order me a taxi [no object]:are you ready to order, sir?
3 [with object] arrange (something) in a methodical way:all entries are ordered by date (as adjective, in combination -ordered)her normally well-ordered life
by order
according to directions given by the proper authority:he was released from prison by order of the court
in order
1according to a particular sequence:list the points you intend to cover and put them in order
2in the correct condition for operation or use:it is the liquidator’s task to put the affairs of the company in order
3in accordance with the rules of procedure at a meeting, legislative assembly, etc.:surely it is in order for Conservative Members to put various policy options to the Prime Minister?
appropriate in the circumstances:a little bit of flattery was now in order
in order for (or that)
so that:staff must be committed to the change in order for it to succeed
in order to do something
with the purpose of doing something:he slouched into his seat in order to avoid drawing attention to himself
of the order of
chiefly British
1approximately:sales increases are of the order of 20%
2 Mathematics having the order of magnitude specified by.
on order
(of goods) requested but not yet received from the supplier or manufacturer:the helicopters have been on order for two years
on the order of
chiefly North American
1approximately.
2similar to:singers on the order of Janis Joplin
Order! (or Order! Order!)
a call for silence or the observance of the prescribed procedures by someone in charge of a meeting, legislative assembly, etc..
order arms
Military hold a rifle with its butt on the ground close to one’s right side.
order of battle
the units, formations, and equipment of a military force.
the order of the day
1the prevailing custom or state of affairs:on Sundays, a black suit was the order of the dayconfusion would seem to be the order of the day
2(in a legislature) the business to be considered on a particular day.
orders are orders
commands must be obeyed, however much one may disagree with them:orders are orders and you’re only doing your duty
order to view
British an estate agent’s request to an occupier to allow inspection of their premises by a client.
out of order
1(of a device) not working properly or at all:the elevator was out of order
2not in the correct sequence:he recorded the seven pieces out of order
3not according to the rules of a meeting, legislative assembly, etc.:he ruled the objection out of order
British informal (of a person or their behaviour) unacceptable or wrong:Chris was well out of order
to order
according to a customer’s particular requirements:the jumpers are knitted to order
