( BrE also des·patch ) / dɪˈspætʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
dispatch sb/sth (to ... ) ( formal ) to send sb/sth somewhere, especially for a special purpose :
Troops have been dispatched to the area.
A courier was dispatched to collect the documents.
2.
dispatch sth (to sb/sth) ( formal ) to send a letter, package or message somewhere :
Goods are dispatched within 24 hours of your order reaching us.
3.
( formal ) to deal or finish with sb/sth quickly and completely :
He dispatched the younger player in straight sets.
4.
( old-fashioned ) to kill a person or an animal
■ noun
1.
[ U ] ( formal ) the act of sending sb/sth somewhere :
More food supplies are ready for immediate dispatch.
2.
[ C ] a message or report sent quickly from one military officer to another or between government officials
3.
[ C ] a report sent to a newspaper by a journalist who is working in a foreign country :
dispatches from the war zone
•
IDIOMS
- with dispatch
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from Italian dispacciare or Spanish despachar expedite, from dis- , des- (expressing reversal) + the base of Italian impacciare , Spanish empachar hinder.