1or·der 
/ˈoɚdɚ/ noun
plural or·ders /ˈoɚdɚ/ noun 1 : a statement made by a person with authority that tells someone to do something : an instruction or direction that must be obeyed [count] ▪ The captain was barking out orders [=commands] to the crew. ▪ That's an order, not a request! ▪ Failing to comply with an order will result in the loss of your job. ▪ She received an order to appear in court. ▪ They can't close down the school without an order from the governor's office. ▪ The mayor gave/issued an order to evacuate the city. ▪ It's not his fault. He was only following/obeying orders. ▪ I'm not taking orders from you! You're not my boss. ▪ She left the hospital against her doctor's orders. [=her doctor told her not to leave, but she left anyway] ▪ The soldiers were under (strict) orders to shoot anything that moved. [noncount] ▪ The city was evacuated by order of the mayor. — see also cease and desist order, court order, executive order, gag order, marching orders, money order, restraining order, standing order, tall order 2 a : a specific request asking a company to supply goods or products to a customer [count] ▪ The store received an order for 200 roses this morning. ▪ They had trouble filling large customer orders. ▪ I placed a book order [=an order for a book] yesterday. ▪ I'd like to cancel my order. ▪ We offer free shipping on orders over 50 dollars. [noncount] ▪ We don't have that CD in the store right now, but we do have it on order. [=we have ordered it but it has not yet been delivered] ▪ The book is on (special) order from the publisher. ▪ Dresses in larger sizes are available by special order. — see also back order, mail order, purchase order
b [count] : a product or a group of products that someone has requested from a company
▪ We shipped your order last Thursday. 3 [count] a : a request for food or drinks made at a restaurant
▪ The waiter still hasn't come to take our order. ▪ May I take your order? ▪ Please wait in this line to place your order.
b : the food and drinks that someone has requested at a restaurant
▪ Your order will be ready any minute now. ▪ Is this order for here or to go? [=do you want to eat in this restaurant or take the food somewhere else?]
c : an amount of food that is served at a restaurant
▪ I'd like a large order of French fries, please. ▪ I'd like a hamburger with a side order of fries. [=I'd like an order of fries with my hamburger] 4 : the particular way that things or events are organized in a list or series [singular] ▪ Roll the dice to determine the order of play. [=to decide who will play first, second, third, etc.] ▪ The names were listed in no particular order. ▪ He remembers things happening in a different order. ▪ The actors' names are listed in the order of their appearance. = They are listed in the order in which they appear. ▪ Do these steps in the correct/proper/right order. [noncount] ▪ a series of jobs listed in order of difficulty/importance/size ▪ The top three contestants were named in random order. ▪ Her CDs are arranged in alphabetical order according to the artists' names. ▪ a series of events given in chronological/historical order ▪ They rank the wines in ascending/descending order according to their quality. ▪ The movie tells the story of her life in reverse order. [=from the end to the beginning] ▪ The books on those shelves are out of order. They need to be put in order. — see also pecking order 5 [noncount] a : an organized and proper state or condition
▪ Two weeks after the disaster, he has managed to bring order out of (the) chaos. ▪ Hundreds of families are struggling to get/put their lives back in order after the earthquake. ▪ Get your passport in order before you leave for your trip. ▪ All her documents were in order. ▪ She makes sure the organization's finances are in good order. ▪ Drivers must keep their trucks clean and in (good) working order. [=working properly] — opposite disorder
b : the state in which people behave properly, follow rules or laws, and respect authority
▪ Our leaders must restore order to the city. ▪ the loss of public order ▪ Some teachers have trouble maintaining order in the classroom. ▪ a lack of order and discipline ▪ “Order, order in the court!” the judge shouted at the unruly men. 6 [singular] : a social or political system : the way that a society is organized or controlled
▪ These young activists dared to challenge the established social order. ▪ calling for the end of the old order ▪ a new world order ▪ They seem to have accepted poverty as part of the natural order of things. 7 [singular] : a level of quality or excellence
▪ a teacher of the first/highest order [=an excellent teacher] ▪ Their customer service is of a higher order than that of their competitors. 8 [count] chiefly Brit : a social class — usually plural ▪ servants and other members of the lower orders 9 [count] biology : a group of related plants or animals that is larger than a family
▪ humans, apes, and other members of the order Primates 10 [count] : a large organization of people who have similar jobs or interests and who give help to other members
▪ the Masonic Order ▪ the Fraternal Order of Police 11 [count] : a religious organization whose members usually live together and promise to follow special rules and traditions
▪ joining a religious/monastic order ▪ an order of Catholic missionaries — see also holy orders 12 [count] : a group of people who have been given an honor or reward by a country's ruler
▪ The Queen made him a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
b [count] : a product or a group of products that someone has requested from a company
▪ We shipped your order last Thursday.
▪ The waiter still hasn't come to take our order. ▪ May I take your order? ▪ Please wait in this line to place your order.
b : the food and drinks that someone has requested at a restaurant
▪ Your order will be ready any minute now. ▪ Is this order for here or to go? [=do you want to eat in this restaurant or take the food somewhere else?]
c : an amount of food that is served at a restaurant
▪ I'd like a large order of French fries, please. ▪ I'd like a hamburger with a side order of fries. [=I'd like an order of fries with my hamburger]
▪ Two weeks after the disaster, he has managed to bring order out of (the) chaos. ▪ Hundreds of families are struggling to get/put their lives back in order after the earthquake. ▪ Get your passport in order before you leave for your trip. ▪ All her documents were in order. ▪ She makes sure the organization's finances are in good order. ▪ Drivers must keep their trucks clean and in (good) working order. [=working properly] — opposite disorder
b : the state in which people behave properly, follow rules or laws, and respect authority
▪ Our leaders must restore order to the city. ▪ the loss of public order ▪ Some teachers have trouble maintaining order in the classroom. ▪ a lack of order and discipline ▪ “Order, order in the court!” the judge shouted at the unruly men.
▪ These young activists dared to challenge the established social order. ▪ calling for the end of the old order ▪ a new world order ▪ They seem to have accepted poverty as part of the natural order of things.
▪ a teacher of the first/highest order [=an excellent teacher] ▪ Their customer service is of a higher order than that of their competitors.
▪ humans, apes, and other members of the order Primates
▪ the Masonic Order ▪ the Fraternal Order of Police
▪ joining a religious/monastic order ▪ an order of Catholic missionaries — see also holy orders
▪ The Queen made him a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
call (something) to order
: to say that (something, such as a meeting or court session) should begin
▪ She called the meeting to order at 8:15. ▪ His lawyer arrived 10 minutes before court was called to order.
▪ She called the meeting to order at 8:15. ▪ His lawyer arrived 10 minutes before court was called to order.
house in order — see 1house
in apple-pie order — see apple pie
in order
: appropriate or desirable
▪ After finishing that three-year project, I decided that a vacation was in order. ▪ An apology is in order, I believe. — see also 1order 4 (above), 1order 5a (above)
▪ After finishing that three-year project, I decided that a vacation was in order. ▪ An apology is in order, I believe. — see also 1order 4 (above), 1order 5a (above)
in order for
: to make it possible for someone or something to be or to do something
▪ In order for companies to be successful, they have to sell their products at competitive prices. ▪ We all have to work together in order for us to win. = We can win, but in order for that to happen, we all have to work together. ▪ They were told that in order for them to keep their jobs, they would have to accept a cut in pay.
▪ In order for companies to be successful, they have to sell their products at competitive prices. ▪ We all have to work together in order for us to win. = We can win, but in order for that to happen, we all have to work together. ▪ They were told that in order for them to keep their jobs, they would have to accept a cut in pay.
in order that
formal — used to say the reason for something ▪ These soldiers gave their lives in order that [=so that] we may live in a safer and more peaceful world.
in order to
: to make it possible for something to happen
▪ In order to succeed, companies have to sell their products at competitive prices. ▪ People come here in order to give their children a better life. ▪ She has to work two jobs in order to [=so that she can] support her family. ▪ I checked my bags twice in order to make sure that I had everything.
▪ In order to succeed, companies have to sell their products at competitive prices. ▪ People come here in order to give their children a better life. ▪ She has to work two jobs in order to [=so that she can] support her family. ▪ I checked my bags twice in order to make sure that I had everything.
in short order — see 1short
law and order — see law
on the order of (chiefly US) or Brit in/of the order of
: around or about (a specified number)
▪ The government has spent on the order of [=approximately] ten million dollars on the project. ▪ He receives something on the order of 100 e-mails a day.
▪ The government has spent on the order of [=approximately] ten million dollars on the project. ▪ He receives something on the order of 100 e-mails a day.
out of order 1 : not working properly : not able to be used
▪ The elevator's out of order [=broken] again. We'll have to take the stairs. ▪ The sign on the coffee machine says “out of order.” 2 : not following the formal rules of a meeting, court session, etc.
▪ At the last town council meeting, her proposal was ruled out of order by the mayor. ▪ The mayor ruled her out of order. 3 Brit, informal : beyond what is reasonable or allowable : not right or appropriate
▪ Your behavior was completely out of order. [=out of line] ▪ His comments were out of order. — see also 1order 4 (above)
▪ The elevator's out of order [=broken] again. We'll have to take the stairs. ▪ The sign on the coffee machine says “out of order.”
▪ At the last town council meeting, her proposal was ruled out of order by the mayor. ▪ The mayor ruled her out of order.
▪ Your behavior was completely out of order. [=out of line] ▪ His comments were out of order. — see also 1order 4 (above)
to order
: in response to a specific order or request
▪ Everything in this restaurant is cooked to order. — see also made-to-order
▪ Everything in this restaurant is cooked to order. — see also made-to-order
— or·der·less /ˈoɚdɚləs/ adjective
▪ a lawless and orderless society
/ˈoɚdɚləs/ adjective ▪ a lawless and orderless society
