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order

n. · v.
US //ˈɔɹdɝ// UK //ˈɔːdɐ// or·der
  1. 1 sequence or arrangement (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the way that things are arranged in a list or line, such as by date or name.

    the specific arrangement or disposition of items in a sequence.

    Example

    Please put these files in alphabetical order so they are easy to find.

    Example

    The librarian insisted that the archives be maintained in chronological order to preserve the historical context of the correspondence.
  2. 2 neatness and organization (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a state where everything is tidy, organized, and working correctly.

    the state of being well-arranged or conforming to a particular system of organization.

    Example

    It took all morning to bring some order to the messy garage.

    Example

    The new manager implemented strict protocols to restore order to the chaotic production line.
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  1. 3 a request for goods (n.)
    A1 Beginner Finance

    a request for food in a restaurant or for a product from a shop.

    a commercial commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods or services.

    Example

    The waiter took our order and returned with our drinks five minutes later.

    Example

    The manufacturing plant received a bulk order for three thousand units, necessitating an immediate increase in raw material procurement.
  2. 4 a command (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    an instruction given by someone with power that you must obey.

    an authoritative direction or instruction that requires obedience.

    Example

    The soldiers followed the captain's order to move forward.

    Example

    The judge issued a court order demanding that the company release the internal documents to the investigators.
  3. 5 biological classification (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a group used to classify living things, smaller than a class but larger than a family.

    a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of organisms.

    Example

    The teacher explained that primates belong to a specific order of mammals.

    Example

    In biological taxonomy, the order Carnivora includes a diverse range of placental mammals that primarily consume meat.
  4. 6 religious or social group (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    a group of people who live by special rules, like monks or nuns.

    a community of people living under a particular religious rule or sharing common social goals.

    Example

    He decided to join a religious order and live in a monastery.

    Example

    The medieval order of knights was established to protect pilgrims traveling through dangerous territories.
  5. 7 to request goods (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to ask for food or products to be brought to you.

    to place a commercial request for the supply of goods or services.

    Example

    I think I will order the steak and a side salad.

    Example

    The procurement department decided to order the specialized components from a local supplier to reduce shipping delays.
  6. 8 to command (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to tell someone they must do something.

    to give an authoritative instruction to someone.

    Example

    The doctor ordered him to stay in bed for three days.

    Example

    The governor ordered an immediate evacuation of the coastal areas as the storm intensified.
  7. 9 to organize (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to put things into a neat or logical arrangement.

    to arrange or organize items according to a specific system or sequence.

    Example

    She spent the afternoon ordering her books by genre.

    Example

    The software is designed to automatically order the search results based on their relevance to the user's query.
Origin

From Middle English ordre, from Old French ordre, ordne, ordene (“order, rank”), from Latin ōrdinem, accusative of ōrdō (“row, rank, regular arrangement”, literally “row of threads in a loom”), from Proto-Italic ordō (“to arrange”), probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂or-d-, from *h₂er-. Related to Latin ōrdior (“begin”, literally “begin to weave”). In sense “request for purchase”, compare bespoke. Doublet of ordo.

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