order
• noun 1 the arrangement of people or things according to a particular sequence or method. 2 a state in which everything is in its correct place. 3 a state in which the laws and rules regulating public behaviour are observed. 4 an authoritative command or direction. 5 a request for something to be made, supplied, or served. 6 the prescribed procedure followed in a meeting, law court, or religious service. 7 quality or nature: poetry of the highest order. 8 a social class or system. 9 a rank in the Christian ministry. (orders or holy orders) the rank of an ordained minister of the Church. a society of monks, nuns, or friars (or formerly knights) living under the same rule. an institution founded by a monarch to honour good conduct: the Order of the Garter. Biology a principal taxonomic category that ranks below class and above family. any of the five classical styles of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite). • verb 1 give an order. 2 request that (something) be made, supplied, or served. 3 arrange methodically. — PHRASES in order 1 in the correct condition for operation or use. 2 appropriate in the circumstances. in order for (or that) so that. in order to with the purpose of doing. of (or in or on) the order of approximately. on order (of goods) requested but not yet received. the order of the day 1 the prevailing state of affairs. 2 the day’s business to be considered in a meeting or parliament. out of order 1 not working properly or at all. 2 Brit. informal unacceptable or wrong. — ORIGIN Latin ordo ‘row, series’.
Perform another search of the Compact Oxford English Dictionary
About this dictionary
The Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English contains 145,000 words, phrases, and definitions.
Find out more about Oxford's range of English dictionaries
Sign up for the AskOxford Word of the Day
Search the Little Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
Search the Concise Dictionary of First Names
|
