■ noun
1》 the arrangement or disposition of people or things according to a particular sequence or method.
↘a state in which everything is in its correct place.
↘a state in which the laws and rules regulating public behaviour are observed.
2》 an authoritative command or direction.
↘a verbal or written request for something to be made, supplied, or served.
3》 a particular social, political, or economic system.
↘a social class.
↘a rank in the Christian ministry, especially that of bishop, priest, or deacon.
↘( ~s ) the rank of an ordained minister of the Church. See also holy ~s .
↘ Theology any of the nine grades of angelic beings in the celestial hierarchy.
4》 the prescribed procedure followed by a meeting, legislative assembly, or court of law.
↘a prescribed form of liturgical service.
5》 Biology a principal taxonomic category that ranks below class and above family.
6》 a society of monks, nuns, or friars living under the same rule.
↘ historical a society of knights constituted in a similar way to a monastic ~.
↘an institution founded by a monarch along the lines of such an ~ of knights for the purpose of honouring meritorious conduct.
↘a Masonic or similar fraternity.
7》 the quality or nature of something: poetry of the highest ~.
8》 any of the five classical styles of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite) based on proportions of columns and the style of their decoration.
9》 Military equipment or uniform for a specified purpose or of a specified type: drill ~.
10》 Mathematics the degree of complexity of an equation, expression, etc.
↘the number of elements in a finite group.
↘the number of rows or columns in a square matrix.
■ verb
1》 give an ~.
2》 request (something) to be made, supplied, or served.
3》 arrange methodically.
Phrases
in ~
1》 in the correct condition for operation or use.
2》 appropriate in the circumstances.
in ~ for (or that ) so that.
in ~ to with the purpose of doing.
of (or on ) the ~ of approximately.
on ~ (of goods) requested but not yet received.
~ arms Military hold a rifle with its butt on the ground close to one's right side.
~ of battle the units, formations, and equipment of a military force.
the ~ of the day
1》 the prevailing or required custom or state of affairs.
2》 (in a legislature) the business to be considered on a particular day.
out of ~
1》 (of an electrical or mechanical device) not working properly or at all.
2》 Brit. informal unacceptable or wrong.
Origin
ME: from OFr. ordre , from L. ordo , ordin- 'row, series'.