n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ordre, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin ordin-, ordo ecclesiastical order, from Latin, arrangement, group, class; akin to Latin ordiri to lay the warp, begin
Date: 14th century
1 a : a group of people united in a formal way: as (1) : a fraternal society <the Masonic Order > (2) : a community under a religious rule especially : one requiring members to take solemn vows b : a badge or medal of such a society also : a military decoration
2 a : any of the several grades of the Christian ministry b plural : the office of a person in the Christian ministry c plural : ORDINATION
3 a : a rank, class, or special group in a community or society b : a class of persons or things grouped according to quality, value, or natural characteristics: as (1) : a category of taxonomic classification ranking above the family and below the class (2) : the broadest category in soil classification
4 a (1) : RANK , LEVEL <a statesman of the first order > (2) : CATEGORY , CLASS <in emergencies of this order ― R. B. Westerfield> b (1) : the arrangement or sequence of objects or of events in time <listed the items in order of importance> <the batting order > (2) : a sequential arrangement of mathematical elements c : DEGREE 12A B d (1) : the number of times differentiation is applied successively <derivatives of higher order > (2) of a differential equation : the order of the derivative of highest order e : the number of columns or rows or columns and rows in a magic square, determinant, or matrix <the order of a matrix with 2 rows and 3 columns is 2 by 3> f : the number of elements in a finite mathematical group
5 a (1) : a sociopolitical system <was opposed to changes in the established order > (2) : a particular sphere or aspect of a sociopolitical system <the present economic order > b : a regular or harmonious arrangement <the order of nature>
6 a : a prescribed form of a religious service : RITE b : the customary mode of procedure especially in debate <point of order >
7 a : the state of peace, freedom from confused or unruly behavior, and respect for law or proper authority <promised to restore law and order > b : a specific rule, regulation, or authoritative direction : COMMAND
8 a : a style of building b : a type of column and entablature forming the unit of a style
9 a : state or condition especially with regard to functioning or repair <things were in terrible order > b : a proper, orderly, or functioning condition <their passports were in order > <the phone is out of order >
10 a : a written direction to pay money to someone b : a commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods or to perform work c : goods or items bought or sold d : an assigned or requested undertaking <landing men on the moon was a tall order >
11 : ORDER OF THE DAY <flat roofs were the order in the small villages>
– or · der · less \ -l ə s \ adjective
– in order : APPROPRIATE , DESIRABLE <an apology is in order >
– in order to : for the purpose of
– on order : in the process of being ordered
– on the order of
1 : after the fashion of : LIKE <a genius on the order of Newton ― D. B. Botkin>
2 : ABOUT , APPROXIMATELY <spent on the order of two million dollars>
– to order : according to the specifications of an order <shoes made to order >
order 8b: 1 Corinthian, 2 Doric, 3 Ionic