plural
orders
plural
orders
Britannica Dictionary definition of ORDER
1
:
a statement made by a person with authority that tells someone to do something
:
an instruction or direction that must be obeyed
[count]
-
The captain was barking out orders [=commands] to the crew.
-
That's an order, not a request!
-
Failing to comply with an order will result in the loss of your job.
-
She received an order to appear in court.
-
They can't close down the school without an order from the governor's office.
-
The mayor gave/issued an order to evacuate the city.
-
It's not his fault. He was only following/obeying orders.
-
I'm not taking orders from you! You're not my boss.
-
She left the hospital against her doctor's orders. [=her doctor told her not to leave, but she left anyway]
-
The soldiers were under (strict) orders to shoot anything that moved.
[noncount]
—
see also cease and desist order, court order, executive order, gag order, marching orders, money order, restraining order, standing order, tall order
2
a
:
a specific request asking a company to supply goods or products to a customer
[count]
-
The store received an order for 200 roses this morning.
-
They had trouble filling large customer orders.
-
I placed a book order [=an order for a book] yesterday.
-
I'd like to cancel my order.
-
We offer free shipping on orders over 50 dollars.
[noncount]
-
We don't have that CD in the store right now, but we do have it on order. [=we have ordered it but it has not yet been delivered]
-
The book is on (special) order from the publisher.
-
Dresses in larger sizes are available by special order.
—
see also back order, mail order, purchase order
b
[count]
:
a product or a group of products that someone has requested from a company
3
[count]
a
:
a request for food or drinks made at a restaurant
b
:
the food and drinks that someone has requested at a restaurant
c
:
an amount of food that is served at a restaurant
-
I'd like a large order of French fries, please.
-
I'd like a hamburger with a side order of fries. [=I'd like an order of fries with my hamburger]
4
:
the particular way that things or events are organized in a list or series
[singular]
-
Roll the dice to determine the order of play. [=to decide who will play first, second, third, etc.]
-
The names were listed in no particular order.
-
He remembers things happening in a different order.
-
The actors' names are listed in the order of their appearance. = They are listed in the order in which they appear.
-
Do these steps in the correct/proper/right order.
[noncount]
-
a series of jobs listed in order of difficulty/importance/size
-
The top three contestants were named in random order.
-
Her CDs are arranged in alphabetical order according to the artists' names.
-
a series of events given in chronological/historical order
-
They rank the wines in ascending/descending order according to their quality.
-
The movie tells the story of her life in reverse order. [=from the end to the beginning]
-
The books on those shelves are out of order. They need to be put in order.
—
see also pecking order
5
[noncount]
a
:
an organized and proper state or condition
-
Two weeks after the disaster, he has managed to bring order out of (the) chaos.
-
Hundreds of families are struggling to get/put their lives back in order after the earthquake.
-
Get your passport in order before you leave for your trip.
-
All her documents were in order.
-
She makes sure the organization's finances are in good order.
-
Drivers must keep their trucks clean and in (good) working order. [=working properly]
—
opposite disorder
b
:
the state in which people behave properly, follow rules or laws, and respect authority
-
Our leaders must restore order to the city.
-
the loss of public order
-
Some teachers have trouble maintaining order in the classroom.
-
a lack of order and discipline
-
“Order, order in the court!” the judge shouted at the unruly men.
6
[singular]
:
a social or political system
:
the way that a society is organized or controlled
-
These young activists dared to challenge the established social order.
-
calling for the end of the old order
-
a new world order
-
They seem to have accepted poverty as part of the natural order of things.
7
[singular]
:
a level of quality or excellence
8
[count]
chiefly British
:
a social class
—
usually plural
9
[count]
biology
:
a group of related plants or animals that is larger than a family
10
[count]
:
a large organization of people who have similar jobs or interests and who give help to other members
11
[count]
:
a religious organization whose members usually live together and promise to follow special rules and traditions
—
see also holy orders
12
[count]
:
a group of people who have been given an honor or reward by a country's ruler
call (something) to order
:
to say that (something, such as a meeting or court session) should begin
in order
:
appropriate or desirable
-
After finishing that three-year project, I decided that a vacation was in order.
-
An apology is in order, I believe.
—
see also 1order 4 (above), 1order 5a (above)
in order for
:
to make it possible for someone or something to be or to do something
-
In order for companies to be successful, they have to sell their products at competitive prices.
-
We all have to work together in order for us to win. = We can win, but in order for that to happen, we all have to work together.
-
They were told that in order for them to keep their jobs, they would have to accept a cut in pay.
in order that
formal
—
used to say the reason for something
in order to
:
to make it possible for something to happen
-
In order to succeed, companies have to sell their products at competitive prices.
-
People come here in order to give their children a better life.
-
She has to work two jobs in order to [=so that she can] support her family.
-
I checked my bags twice in order to make sure that I had everything.
on the order of
(chiefly US)
or British
in/of the order of
:
around or about (a specified number)
out of order
1
:
not working properly
:
not able to be used
2
:
not following the formal rules of a meeting, court session, etc.
-
At the last town council meeting, her proposal was ruled out of order by the mayor.
-
The mayor ruled her out of order.
3
British, informal
:
beyond what is reasonable or allowable
:
not right or appropriate
—
see also 1order 4 (above)
to order
:
in response to a specific order or request
—
see also made-to-order
— orderless
/ˈoɚdɚləs/
adjective
2
order
/ˈoɚdɚ/
verb
orders;
ordered;
ordering
orders;
ordered;
ordering
Britannica Dictionary definition of ORDER
1
[+ object]
a
:
to use your authority to tell someone to do something
:
to give an order to someone
-
They ordered everyone out of the house.
-
The soldiers were ordered back to the base.
-
“Stop! Drop your weapon!” ordered the officer.
—
usually followed by to + verb
-
The police officer ordered him to stop and drop his weapon.
-
The soldiers were ordered to return to the base.
-
Everyone on the ship was ordered to put on their life jackets.
-
I order you to leave this instant!
b
:
to say that (something) must be done
-
The court threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial.
-
The judge ordered that the charges be dismissed.
-
He was accused of ordering the murder of his wife.
2
:
to place an order for (something): such as
a
:
to request (something) from a company
[+ object]
[no object]
b
:
to request (food or drinks) from a restaurant
[+ object]
-
I'd like to order a large cheese pizza.
-
She sat down at the bar and ordered a drink.
-
Would you like me to order you a drink? = Would you like me to order a drink for you?
-
I had the fish and he ordered the steak.
-
Do you know what you're going to order?
[no object]
3
[+ object]
:
to organize (things) in a particular list or series
:
to put things in a particular order or position
—
see also reorder
just what the doctor ordered
—
see 1doctor
order around
[phrasal verb]
or chiefly British
order about
order (someone) around/about
:
to give orders to (someone)
:
to tell (someone) what to do
— orderable
/ˈoɚdɚrəbəl/
adjective
— orderer
/ˈoɚdɚrɚ/
noun,
plural
orderers
[count]