- 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.
- to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.
- to give orders.
- an authoritative order or command.
- a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc.: to follow the dictates of one's conscience.
- to say (messages, letters, speeches, etc) aloud for mechanical recording or verbatim transcription by another person
- to prescribe (commands) authoritatively
- to act in a tyrannical manner; seek to impose one's will on others
- an authoritative command
- a guiding principle or rule
