The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - order n.

1) organization, arrangement, grouping, disposition, form, structure, categorization, systematization or systemization, classification, codification, disposal, layout, array, sequence, Colloq set-up: The order of the library is of crucial importance if we are to find anything. 2) organization, uniformity, regularity, system, pattern, symmetry, harmony, tidiness, orderliness, neatness: Some believe that there is an order of things in the universe, others that the universe tends to chaos. 3) category, class, caste, level, kind, sort, rank, group, scale, importance, hierarchy, position, status, degree, Colloq pecking order: Gregory's musical talents are of a very high order. 4) command, direction, directive, instruction, commandment, dictate, mandate, edict, behest, request, demand, ukase, decree, fiat, proclamation, pronouncement, pronunciamento; rule, regulation, law, ordinance, statute, requirement: The police have issued an order to surrender all hand guns. 5) procedure, proceeding(s) , discipline, conduct: The order of the meeting was breached by some rowdies. 6) condition, state (of affairs) : Please leave everything in the order in which you found it. 7) purchase order, request, requisition, commitment, commission, instruction: We received a large order for office furniture. 8) calm, peace, peacefulness, tranquillity, quiet, serenity, law and order, discipline, lawfulness: After a brief commotion, order was restored. 9) brotherhood, fraternity, sisterhood, sorority, fellowship, sodality, association, organization, society, guild, sect, company, community, lodge, body, knighthood: One of her ancestors was a Knight of the Teutonic Order. 1) 0 in order. a neat, clean, tidy, shipshape, orderly, (well-) organized, ready, prepared, arranged: Is everything in order for the wedding tomorrow? b fitting, suitable, appropriate, correct, right, apt, called-for; required, demanded, needed: I think that an apology is in order for the way you behaved. 1) 1 in order that. so (that) , with the aim or purpose that, to the end that: We invited him in order that you might meet him. 1) 2 in order to. to, for the purpose of: In order to get there, you have to drive up the hill. 1) 3 out of order. a disordered, non-sequential, out of sequence, non-alphabetical, disorganized, unorganized, in disorder: The cards in this catalogue are out of order and I cannot find anything. b unseemly, out of place, improper, uncalled-for, unsuitable, indecorous, Colloq chiefly Brit not cricket: Your remark about her religion was completely out of order. c out of commission, broken, in disrepair, non-functioning, non-functional, not working, broken-down, inoperative, out of kilter or Brit also kelter, Colloq (gone) haywire, kaput, bust(ed) , US out of whack, on the fritz, shot; Slang on the blink, Brit wonky, gone phut: The telly is out of order again. --v. 1) 4 direct, command, instruct, charge, tell, bid, require, enjoin; demand, ordain; force, make: The sergeant ordered the men to run around the drill field with full packs. The council ordered that garden rubbish should be packed in special bags. 15 requisition, ask for, send (away) for, call for, apply for, reserve, engage, commission, contract for; purchase, buy: Have you ordered breakfast for tomorrow? Let's order a take-away from the Chinese restaurant. 16 organize, systematize, arrange, classify, categorize, codify, lay out, sort (out) , straighten (out or up) : The bottles were ordered in neat rows along the wall.