v.
- give an authoritative or peremptory order.
▸Military be in charge of (a unit).
▸archaic control or restrain (oneself or one's feelings).
- dominate (a strategic position) from a superior height.
- be in a strong enough position to have or secure:
they command a majority in Parliament.
n.
- an authoritative order.
▸authority, especially over armed forces:
the officer in command.
▸a group of officers exercising control over a group or operation.
▸a body of troops or a district under the control of a particular officer.
- the ability to use or control something:
his command of English.
- an instruction causing a computer to perform one of its basic functions.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. comander, from late L. commandare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare ‘commit, command’.