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- DictionaryDic·tate
verb
- 1. lay down authoritatively; prescribe: "the tsar's attempts to dictate policy"
- 2. say or read aloud (words to be typed, written down, or recorded on tape): "I have four letters to dictate"
noun
- 1. an order or principle that must be obeyed: "the dictates of fashion"
1. : to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record. dictating a letter to her secretary. 2. a. : to issue as an order. b. : to impose, pronounce, or specify authoritatively. dictate the terms of surrender.
DICTATE definition: 1. to give orders, or tell someone exactly what they must do, with total authority: 2. to…. Learn more.
to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record: to dictate some letters to a secretary. to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally: to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.
In a very different meaning, dictate means to say something out loud to a person or into a machine so it can be recorded. Up until fairly recently, bosses dictated letters and reports to secretaries who wrote them down.
DICTATE meaning: 1. to give orders, or tell someone exactly what they must do, with total authority: 2. to…. Learn more.
dic·tate. (dĭk′tāt′, dĭk-tāt′) v. dic·tat·ed, dic·tat·ing, dic·tates. v.tr. 1. To say or read aloud to be recorded or written by another: dictate a letter. 2. a. To prescribe with authority; impose: dictated the rules of the game.
If you dictate something, you say or read it aloud for someone else to write down.
dictate. [transitive] to tell somebody what to do, especially in an annoying way. dictate something (to somebody) They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do). dictate how, what, etc…/that….
To say or read aloud material to be recorded or written by another. Dictated for an hour before leaving for the day. American Heritage. To give (orders or instructions) arbitrarily. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. More Verb Definitions (1) Synonyms: prescribe.
Dictate definition: to say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record. See examples of DICTATE used in a sentence.
