order */*/*/

I UK [ˈɔː(r)də(r)] / US [ˈɔrdər] noun
Word forms "order":
singular order plural orders

1) [countable/uncountable] the way in which a set of things is arranged or done, so that it is clear which thing is first, second, third etc

order of:

You can change the order of the list by using the "sort" command.

in order (= in the correct order):

Please try to keep the pictures in order.

out of order (= in the wrong order):

Some of the names on the list are out of order.

in alphabetical/chronological/numerical order (= in order according to spelling, time, or number):

The computer puts the list in alphabetical order by last name.

in order of priority/importance/frequency etc:

We will deal with these problems in order of priority.

in reverse order (= in the opposite order to what is normal):

Prizes will be given out in reverse order, starting with the team that finished third.

2) [countable] a request for a product to be made for you or delivered to you

order for:

A major order for six new ships will guarantee the company's future.

place an order (= make a request):

You may place your order by telephone or on the Internet.

on order (= asked for but not yet supplied):

The parts are still on order – we're expecting them any day.

made/built to order (= specifically for a particular customer):

Their computers are all made to order.

a) a request for food or drink in a restaurant or hotel

take someone's order (= record what a customer wants):

May I take your order, Sir?

b) food, drink, or a product that a customer has asked for

The waitress got our orders mixed up.

See:

side order

3)

a) [countable] an instruction given by someone in a position of authority

give an order:

Try to persuade your employees – don't just give orders.

take orders from someone (= obey someone):

I don't have to take orders from you or anyone else!

order to do something:

Captain Turner gave the order to fire.

obey/disobey orders:

The colonel admitted that he had disobeyed orders.

have orders/be under orders to do something (= to have been officially told to do something):

The guards have orders to shoot anyone breaking into the compound.

by order of someone (= according to someone's instructions):

The documents were burned by order of the king.

b) a legal document that says what someone must or must not do

an eviction order

4)

a) [uncountable] a situation in which people obey the law and follow the accepted rules of social behaviour

social/public order:

Violent protests in the street revealed a breakdown of social order.

maintain/restore order:

The new president's most urgent task will be to maintain order.

b) the fact of obeying the rules of a formal meeting, for example in a parliament

call/bring a meeting to order (= make everyone start obeying the rules):

The Chair called the meeting to order.

5) [uncountable] a situation in which everything is well organized or arranged

I'm trying to bring a bit of order to the garden.

in order:

I want to get my accounts in order before I leave.

See:

house I

6) [singular] the general situation at a particular time, especially the existing political, economic, or social system that is used at a particular time

With the arrival of industrialization, the old social order was slowly breaking down.

the established/existing order:

Anti-capitalist protesters are seen as a threat to the existing order.

7) [singular] formal a particular type or quality

We accept that peaceful protest should be allowed, but this is something of a very different order.

Storms of this order are fortunately quite rare.

of a high/the highest order (= of the best or worst type):

The job calls for problem-solving skills of a high order.

It was economic lunacy of the highest order.

8)

a) [countable] a group of people, especially monks or nuns, who live according to specific religious rules

the Order of St Cecily

a Buddhist order

b) an organization of people whose members follow special and sometimes secret rules

the Ancient Order of Hibernians

9) [countable] biology a large group of plants or animals that are related to each other. An order includes more than a family and less than a class.

10)

a) orders

[plural] holy orders

b) the rank of a priest or minister

•

in order (for someone/something) to do something — so that someone can do something or something can happen

In order for the company to be profitable, sales would need to rise by at least 60%.

What do I have to do in order to convince them?

of/in the order of something — near a particular amount, but not exactly

She was paid something in the order of £15,000 for the story.

Order! Order! — spoken used for telling people to be quiet and obey the rules, especially in a court of law or in the British parliament

- in order

- in order that

- the order of the day

- out of order

See:

order of magnitude

II UK [ˈɔː(r)də(r)] / US [ˈɔrdər] verb
Word forms "order":
present tense I/you/we/they order he/she/it orders present participle ordering past tense ordered past participle ordered

1) [transitive] to tell someone to do something, or to say that something should be done, in a way that shows you have authority

The government has ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident.

order someone to do something:

The judge ordered Hill to serve five years in prison for the robbery.

order someone in/out/off/back etc:

The Director has ordered her off the project.

His soldiers ordered the two men out of the vehicle.

order that:

Local police have ordered that all guns should be registered.

2)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to ask for food or drink in a restaurant or hotel

Are you ready to order?

I'd like to order the salmon, please.

order someone something:

The waitress came, so we ordered you another beer.

b) [transitive] to ask for a product to be made for you or delivered to you

The airline has ordered 35 new planes.

order something for someone/something:

I've ordered some more books for the school library.

3) [transitive] to put things in a particular order

The list of books is ordered alphabetically by title.

•

order (someone) a taxi — British to ask by telephone for a taxi to come for someone

It's raining – shall I order you a taxi?

Phrasal verbs:

- order around

- order in

- order off

- order out

- order up

See:

doctor I