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.
verb (used without object),dic·tat·ed,dic·tat·ing.
to say or read aloud something to be written down by a person or recorded by a machine.
to give orders.
noun
an authoritative order or command.
a guiding or governing principle, requirement, etc.: to follow the dictates of one's conscience.
Origin of dictate
1585–95; <Latin dictātus, past participle of dictāre to say repeatedly, prescribe, order, frequentative of dīcere to say
SYNONYMS FOR dictate
6 bidding, urging, prompting.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR dictate ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM dictate
dic·tat·ing·ly,adverbmis·dic·tat·ed,adjectivepre·dic·tate,verb (used with object),pre·dic·tat·ed,pre·dic·tat·ing.re·dic·tate,verb,re·dic·tat·ed,re·dic·tat·ing.