or·der (ôr?d?r)n.1. A condition of logical or comprehensible arrangement among the separate elements of a group.2. a. A condition of methodical or prescribed arrangement among component parts such that proper functioning or appearance is achieved: checked to see that the shipping department was in order.b. Condition or state in general: The escalator is in good working order.3. a. The established system of social organization: “Every revolution exaggerates the evils of the old order” (C. Wright Mills).b. A condition in which freedom from disorder or disruption is maintained through respect for established authority: finally restored order in the rebellious provinces.4. A sequence or arrangement of successive things: changed the order of the files.5. The prescribed form or customary procedure, as in a meeting or court of law: The bailiff called the court to order.6. An authoritative indication to be obeyed; a command or direction.7. a. A command given by a superior military officer requiring obedience, as in the execution of a task.b. orders Formal written instructions to report for military duty at a specified time and place.8. a. A commission or instruction to buy, sell, or supply something.b. That which is supplied, bought, or sold.9. a. A request made by a customer at a restaurant for a portion of food.b. The food requested.10. Law A directive or command of a court.11. Ecclesiastical a. Any of several grades of the Christian ministry: the order of priesthood.b. often orders The rank of an ordained Christian minister or priest.c. often orders The sacrament or rite of ordination.12. Any of the nine grades or choirs of angels.13. A group of persons living under a religious rule: Order of Saint Benedict.14. An organization of people united by a common fraternal bond or social aim.15. a. A group of people upon whom a government or sovereign has formally conferred honor for unusual service or merit, entitling them to wear a special insignia: the Order of the Garter.b. The insignia worn by such people.16. often orders A social class: the lower orders.17. A class defined by the common attributes of its members; a kind.18. Degree of quality or importance; rank: poetry of a high order.19. Architecture a. Any of several styles of classical architecture characterized by the type of column and entablature employed. Of the five generally accepted classical orders, the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders are Greek and the Tuscan and Composite orders are Roman.b. A style of building: a cathedral of the Gothic order.20. Biology A taxonomic category of organisms ranking above a family and below a class.21. Mathematics a. The sum of the exponents to which the variables in a term are raised; degree.b. An indicated number of successive differentiations to be performed.c. The number of elements in a finite group.d. The number of rows or columns in a determinant or matrix.v. or·dered, or·der·ing, or·ders v.tr.1. a. To issue a command or instruction to: ordered the sailors to stow their gear.b. To direct to proceed as specified: ordered the intruders off the property.2. a. To give a command or instruction for: The judge ordered a recount of the ballots.b. To request to be supplied with: order eggs and bacon for breakfast.3. To put into a methodical, systematic arrangement: ordered the books on the shelf. See Synonyms at arrange.4. To predestine; ordain.v.intr. To give an order or orders; request that something be done or supplied.Idioms: in order that So that. in order to For the purpose of. in short order With no delay; quickly. on order Requested but not yet delivered. on the order of1. Of a kind or fashion similar to; like: a house on the order of a mountain lodge.2. Approximately; about: equipment costing on the order of a million dollars. to order According to the buyer’s specifications.[Middle English ordre, from Old French, variant of ordene, from Latin ?rd?, ?rdin-; see ar- in Indo-European roots.]or?der·er n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.order (???d?) n1. a state in which all components or elements are arranged logically, comprehensibly, or naturally2. an arrangement or disposition of things in succession; sequence: alphabetical order. 3. an established or customary method or state, esp of society4. a peaceful or harmonious condition of society: order reigned in the streets. 5. (often plural) a class, rank, or hierarchy: the lower orders. 6. (Biology) biology any of the taxonomic groups into which a class is divided and which contains one or more families. Carnivora, Primates, and Rodentia are three orders of the class Mammalia7. an instruction that must be obeyed; command8. (Law) a decision or direction of a court or judge entered on the court record but not included in the final judgment9. (Commerce) a. a commission or instruction to produce or supply something in return for paymentb. the commodity produced or suppliedc. (as modifier): order form. 10. a procedure followed by an assembly, meeting, etc11. (capital when part of a name) a body of people united in a particular aim or purpose12. (Ecclesiastical Terms) (usually capital) Also called: religious order a group of persons who bind themselves by vows in order to devote themselves to the pursuit of religious aims13. (Historical Terms) history a society of knights constituted as a fraternity, such as the Knights Templars14. a. a group of people holding a specific honour for service or merit, conferred on them by a sovereign or stateb. the insignia of such a group15. (Architecture) a. any of the five major classical styles of architecture classified by the style of columns and entablatures used. See also Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, composite4b. any style of architecture16. (Ecclesiastical Terms) Christianity a. the sacrament by which bishops, priests, etc, have their offices conferred upon themb. any of the degrees into which the ministry is dividedc. the office of an ordained Christian minister17. (Ecclesiastical Terms) a form of Christian Church service prescribed to be used on specific occasions18. (Judaism) Judaism one of the six sections of the Mishna or the corresponding tractates of the Talmud19. (Mathematics) maths a. the number of times a function must be differentiated to obtain a given derivativeb. the order of the highest derivative in a differential equationc. the number of rows or columns in a determinant or square matrixd. the number of members of a finite group20. (Statistics) short for order of magnitude21. (Military) the order military the dress, equipment, or formation directed for a particular purpose or undertaking: drill order; battle order. 22. a tall order something difficult, demanding, or exacting23. in order a. in sequenceb. properly arrangedc. appropriate or fitting24. in order to (preposition; foll by an infinitive) so that it is possible to: to eat in order to live. 25. in order that (conjunction) with the purpose that; so that26. keep order to maintain or enforce order27. of the order of in the order of having an approximately specified size or quantity28. (Commerce) on order having been ordered or commissioned but not having been delivered29. out of order a. not in sequenceb. not workingc. not following the rules or customary procedure30. to order a. according to a buyer’s specificationsb. on request or demandvb31. (tr) to give a command to (a person or animal to do or be something)32. (Commerce) to request (something) to be supplied or made, esp in return for payment: he ordered a hamburger. 33. (tr) to instruct or command to move, go, etc (to a specified place): they ordered her into the house. 34. (tr; may take a clause as object) to authorize; prescribe: the doctor ordered a strict diet. 35. (tr) to arrange, regulate, or dispose (articles) in their proper places36. (of fate or the gods) to will; ordain37. (tr) rare to ordaininterj38. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) an exclamation of protest against an infringement of established procedure39. an exclamation demanding that orderly behaviour be restored[C13: from Old French ordre, from Latin ord?] ?orderer n ?orderless adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014or?der (??r d?r) n. 1. an authoritative direction or instruction; command. 2. the disposition of things following one after another; succession or sequence: alphabetical order. 3. a condition in which each thing is properly disposed with reference to other things and to its purpose; methodical or harmonious arrangement. 4. formal disposition or array. 5. proper, satisfactory, or working condition. 6. state or condition generally: in good working order. 7. conformity or obedience to law or established authority: to maintain law and order. 8. customary mode of procedure; established practice or usage. 9. the customary or prescribed mode of proceeding in debates, legislative bodies, meetings, etc.: parliamentary rules of order. 10. prevailing course or arrangement of things; established system or regime: The old order is changing. 11. a direction or commission to make, provide, or furnish something. 12. a quantity of goods or items purchased or sold. 13. a portion of food requested or served in a restaurant. 14. Math. a. degree, as in algebra. b. the number of rows or columns of a square matrix or determinant. c. the number of times a function has been differentiated to produce a given derivative: a second-order derivative. d. the highest derivative appearing in a given differential equation. e. the number of elements of a given group. 15. a class, kind, or sort distinguished from others by character or rank: talents of a high order. 16. Biol. the usual major subdivision of a class or subclass in the classification of organisms, consisting of one or more families. 17. a rank or class of persons in a community. 18. a group or body of persons of the same profession, occupation, or pursuits. 19. a body or society of persons living by common consent under the same religious, moral, or social regulations. 20. any of the degrees or grades of clerical office. Compare major order, minor order. 21. a monastic society or fraternity: the Franciscan order. 22. any of the nine grades of angels in medieval angelology. Compare angel (def. 1). 23. a written direction to pay money or deliver goods, given by a person legally entitled to dispose of it. 24. Archit. a. an arrangement of columns with an entablature. b. any of five styles of column and entablature typical of classical architecture, including the Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite styles. 25. orders, the rank or status of an ordained Christian minister. 26. Usu., orders. the rite or sacrament of ordination. 27. a prescribed form of religious service or of administration of a rite. 28. a society or fraternity of knights, of combined military and monastic character, as the medieval Knights Templars. 29. an organization or fraternal society in some way resembling the knightly orders. 30. (cap.) a. a special honor or rank conferred by a sovereign upon a person for distinguished achievement. b. the insignia worn by such persons. v.t. 31. to give an order or command to. 32. to direct or command to go or come as specified: She ordered them out of her house. 33. to direct to be made or supplied: to order a copy of a book. 34. to prescribe. 35. to regulate, conduct, or manage. 36. to arrange methodically or suitably. 37. Math. to arrange (the elements of a set) so that if one element precedes another, it cannot be preceded by the other or by elements that the other precedes. 38. to ordain. v.i. 39. to give an order or issue orders. Idioms: 1. call to order, to begin (a meeting). 2. in order, rightful and proper; appropriate: An apology is certainly in order. 3. in order that, so that; to the end that. 4. in order to, as a means to; with the purpose of. 5. on order, ordered but not yet received. 6. on the order of, a. resembling to some extent; like. b. approximately; about. 7. out of order, a. not in correct sequence or arrangement. b. not operating properly; in disrepair. 8. to order, according to the purchaser’s requirements or stipulations. [1175?1225; Middle English ordre