Definition

1. Verb:

   • To request something to be made, supplied, or served: To give an authoritative instruction for something to be produced, delivered, or provided.
   • To command or direct authoritatively: To give a command or instruction that must be obeyed.
   • To arrange in a sequence or systematic way: To organize or classify items according to a particular system.

2. Noun:

   • A request to make, supply, or deliver something: A spoken or written request for goods or services.
   • A command or instruction given by someone in authority: A directive that must be followed.
   • The arrangement or disposition of things in relation to each other: A structured sequence or organized state.
   • A state of peace, lawfulness, and observance of rules: A condition where rules are obeyed and society is organized.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • I would like to order a coffee and a sandwich. (To request something to be served.)
  • The general will order the troops to advance at dawn. (To command authoritatively.)
  • She ordered the books alphabetically by author's last name. (To arrange systematically.)

• Noun:

  • We placed an order for new office furniture. (A request for goods.)
  • He refused to disobey a direct order from his superior. (A command from authority.)
  • The names on the list are in no particular order. (A sequence or arrangement.)
  • The police were called to restore order after the protest. (A state of lawfulness.)

Advanced Usage

• "To order someone around": To habitually give someone commands in a domineering way.

  • He's not your servant; stop ordering him around.

• "In order to": For the purpose of; as a means to.

  • She saved money in order to buy a car.

• "Of the order of": Approximately; in the region of (used with numbers or quantities).

  • The repair costs will be of the order of $500.

• "To order" (Adverbial Phrase): Made according to the buyer's specific requirements. (As referenced in the context.)

  • The suit was tailored to order.
  • He had the shoes made to order.

Variants and Related Words

• Orderly (adj): Neat and well-organized.

  • Please keep your files in an orderly manner.

• Disorder (n): A state of confusion or untidiness.

  • The room was in complete disorder.

• Reorder (v): To order again.

  • We need to reorder supplies for the warehouse.

Synonyms

• Command (v/n): To give an authoritative order; an authoritative order.
• Request (v/n): To politely ask for something; an act of asking politely.
• Arrange (v): To put things into a structured sequence.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Order in: To have food delivered from a restaurant.

  • Let's just order in pizza tonight.

• Order out: (Same as 'order in') To request food delivery.

  • We decided to order out for Chinese food.

• Order up: To request something to be prepared or brought, often in a military or kitchen context.

  • The chef ordered up two more steaks for table five.

Related Idioms

• In short order: Quickly and without delay.

  • The mechanic fixed the problem in short order.

• The order of the day: What is typical, required, or popular at a particular time.

  • With the heatwave, cold drinks are the order of the day.

• Call to order: To formally begin a meeting.

  • The chairperson called the meeting to order.

Adverb

1. to specification
   • he had the shoes made to order