n. 1
An order to do something.
I was given a command to cease shooting.
n. 2
power of control, direction or disposal; mastery.
a good command of language
v. 1
To have or exercise supreme power, control or authority over, especially military; to have under direction or control.
to command an army or a ship
v. 2
To order, give orders; to compel or direct with authority.
The soldier was commanded to cease firing.

Related words

Word family: command-in-chief commandlet commend compulsory commandeer commander commandery commanding
Phrases: command economy high command command hierarchy command line interface pilot in command take command chain of command command language

Forms

Plural: commands → controls, authorities, powers, masteries…
Past participle: commanded
e.g. commanded → overlooked, dominated, overtopped, leaded…

Command, Govern or Control?

The best teachers are not greatly prone to command, but govern or control their pupils largely by other means.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

3 letters: law¹, bid¹
4 letters: will¹, head¹, tell¹, word¹, lead¹, rule¹, helm¹, sway¹, fiat²
5 letters: power², order², claim¹, skill¹, reign¹, edict²
6 letters: charge¹, direct², demand², empire³, decree², govern², behest², enjoin², charre
7 letters: control², captain², require³, conduct², bidding², appoint², mastery³, dictate², preside², precept², overtop
8 letters: pleasure², dominate³, dominion³, overlook³, lordship², instruct²
9 letters: statement², direction³, authority⁴, oversight³, directive³, supremacy⁴, prescribe², dictation³
10 letters: government³, leadership³, domination⁴, injunction³
11 letters: instruction³, sovereignty³, proficiency⁴, commandment³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (fiat² = 2 syllables).