dictate
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record: to dictate some letters to a secretary.
to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally: to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.
to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.
to give orders.
an authoritative order or command.
a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc.: to follow the dictates of one's conscience.
Origin of dictate
1Other words for dictate
6 | bidding, urging, prompting |
Other words from dictate
- dic·tat·ing·ly, adverb
- mis·dic·tat·ed, adjective
- pre·dic·tate, verb (used with object), pre·dic·tat·ed, pre·dic·tat·ing.
- re·dic·tate, verb, re·dic·tat·ed, re·dic·tat·ing.
- un·dic·tat·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for dictate
to say (messages, letters, speeches, etc) aloud for mechanical recording or verbatim transcription by another person
(tr) to prescribe (commands) authoritatively
(intr) to act in a tyrannical manner; seek to impose one's will on others
an authoritative command
a guiding principle or rule: the dictates of reason
Origin of dictate
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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