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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.
DICTATE meaning: 1. to give orders, or tell someone exactly what they must do, with total authority: 2. to…. Learn more.
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.
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….
If you dictate something, you say or read it aloud for someone else to write down. Sheldon writes every day of the week, dictating his novels in the morning. 2. transitive verb. If someone dictates something, or dictates to someone else, they tell them what they should do or can do.
to say or read something for someone to write down: Tony was busy dictating letters to his secretary. dictate verb (DECIDE) to decide or control what happens: [ + question word ] The weather will dictate where we hold the party. Phrasal verbs. dictate to sb.
Definition of dictate verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
