1. [n]  availability for use; "the materials at the command of the potters grew"
2. [n]  the power or authority to command; "an admiral in command"
3. [n]  great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity; "a good command of French"
4. [n]  (computer science) a line of code written as part of a computer program
5. [n]  an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
6. [n]  a military unit or region under the control of a single officer
7. [n]  a position of highest authority; "the corporation has just undergone a change in command"
8. [v]  make someone do something
9. [v]  be in command of; "The general commanded a huge army"
10. [v]  demand as one's due; "This speaker commands a high fee"; "The author commands a fair hearing from his readers"
11. [v]  exercise authoritative control or power over; "control the budget"; "Command the military forces"
12. [v]  look down on; "The villa dominates the town"

1. \Com*mand"\ (?; 61), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Commanded}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Commanding}.] [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF.
   comander, F. commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to,
   to command. Cf. {Commend}, {Mandate}.]
   1. To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to
      direct; to bid; to charge.
            We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you
            never read that we are commanded to forgive our
            friends.                              --Bacon.
            Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me.
                                                  --Shak.
   2. To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to
      have at one's disposal; to lead.
            Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries.
                                                  --Macaulay.
            Such aid as I can spare you shall command. --Shak.
   3. To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or
      vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook.
            Bridges commanded by a fortified house. --Motley.
            Up to the eastern tower, Whose height commands as
            subject all the vale.                 --Shak.
            One side commands a view of the finest garden.
                                                  --Addison.
   4. To have power or influence of the nature of authority
      over; to obtain as if by ordering; to receive as a due; to
      challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and
      affections of the people; the best goods command the best
      price.
            'Tis not in mortals to command success. --Addison.
   5. To direct to come; to bestow. [Obs.]
            I will command my blessing upon you.  --Lev. xxv.
                                                  21.
   Syn: To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule;
        overlook.
   

2. \Com*mand"\, v. i.
   1. To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to
      sway; to influence; to give an order or orders.
            And reigned, commanding in his monarchy. --Shak.
            For the king had so commanded concerning [Haman].
                                                  --Esth. iii.
                                                  2.
   2. To have a view, as from a superior position.
            Far and wide his eye commands.        --Milton.
   

3. \Com*mand"\, n.
   1. An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an
      injunction.
            Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to
            impose.                               --Milton.
   2. The possession or exercise of authority.
            Command and force may often create, but can never
            cure, an aversion.                    --Locke.
   3. Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the
      forces under his command.
   4. Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of
      position; scope of vision; survey.
            The steepy stand Which overlooks the vale with wide
            command.                              --Dryden.
   5. Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to
      have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has
      command of the bridge.
            He assumed an absolute command over his readers.
                                                  --Dryden.
   6. A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post,
      or the whole territory under the authority or control of a
      particular officer.
   {Word of command} (Mil.), a word or phrase of definite and
      established meaning, used in directing the movements of
      soldiers; as, {aim}; {fire}; {shoulder arms}, etc.
   Syn: Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion;
        sovereignty; mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest.
        See {Direction}.
   

A character string which tells a program to perform a specific action. Most commands take arguments which either modify the action performed or supply it with input. Commands may be typed by the user or read from a file by a command interpreter. It is also common to refer to menu items as commands.