16 PHRASE If you say that someone or their behaviour is out of order , you mean that their behaviour is unacceptable or unfair. [INFORMAL ] □ You don't think the paper's a bit out of order in publishing it?
17 to put your house in order → see house
18 order of magnitude → see magnitude SYNONYMS order VERB ➋1
command: He commanded his troops to attack.
instruct: 'Go and have a word with her, Ken,' Webb instructed.
direct: The Bishop directed the faithful to stay at home. NOUN
➋3
instruction: They were told to leave, but no reason for this instruction was given.
ruling: Goodwin tried to have the court ruling overturned.
demand: They rejected the demand to remove U.S. troops.
decree: He issued a decree ordering all armed groups to disband.
➌ 2
organization: The organization of the book is not very well thought-out.
system: …a flexible and relatively efficient filing system.
arrangement: …an arrangement of dark-blue armchairs around a coffee table.
pattern: A change in the pattern of his breathing became apparent. VERB ➌5
arrange: He started to arrange the books in piles.
group: The fact sheets are grouped into seven sections.
sort: He sorted the materials into their folders.
organize: He began to organize his materials.
o r|der book (order books ) N‑COUNT When you talk about the state of a company's order book or order books , you are talking about how many orders for their goods the company has. [mainly BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ [+ for ] He has a full order book for his boat-building yard on the Thames.
or|dered /ɔː r də r d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An ordered society or system is well-organized and has a clear structure. □ An objective set of rules which we all agree to accept is necessary for any ordered society.
or|der|ly /ɔː r də r li/ (orderlies )
1 ADJ If something is done in an orderly fashion or manner, it is done in a well-organized and controlled way. □ The organizers guided them in orderly fashion out of the building. □ …seeking an orderly and peaceful resolution to the crisis.
2 ADJ Something that is orderly is neat or arranged in a neat way. □ Their vehicles were parked in orderly rows. ● or|der|li|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ A balance is achieved in the painting between orderliness and unpredictability.
3 N‑COUNT An orderly is a person who works in a hospital and does jobs that do not require special medical training.
or|di|nal num|ber /ɔː r d I n ə l nʌ mbə r / (ordinal numbers ) N‑COUNT An ordinal number or an ordinal is a word such as 'first', 'third', and 'tenth' that tells you where a particular thing occurs in a sequence of things. Compare cardinal number .
or|di|nance /ɔː r d I nəns/ (ordinances ) N‑COUNT An ordinance is an official rule or order. [FORMAL ] □ …ordinances that restrict building development.
or|di|nari|ly /ɔː r d I nərəli, [AM ] -ne r I li/ ADV [oft ADV adj, ADV before v] If you say what is ordinarily the case, you are saying what is normally the case. □ The streets would ordinarily have been full of people. There was no one. □ …places where the patient does not ordinarily go.
or|di|nary ◆◇◇ /ɔː r d I nri, [AM ] -neri/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Ordinary people or things are normal and not special or different in any way. □ I strongly suspect that most ordinary people would agree with me. □ It has 25 calories less than ordinary ice cream. □ It was just an ordinary weekend for us.
2 PHRASE Something that is out of the ordinary is unusual or different. □ The boy's knowledge was out of the ordinary. □ I've noticed nothing out of the ordinary.
o r|di|nary sha res N‑PLURAL Ordinary shares are shares in a company that are owned by people who have a right to vote at the company's meetings and to receive part of the company's profits after the holders of preference shares have been paid. Compare preference shares . [BRIT , BUSINESS ] in AM, use common stock
or|di|na|tion /ɔː r d I ne I ʃ ə n/ (ordinations ) N‑VAR When someone's ordination takes place, they are made a member of the clergy. □ [+ of ] …supporters of the ordination of women.
ord|nance /ɔː r dnəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Ordnance refers to military supplies, especially weapons. [FORMAL ] □ …a team clearing an area littered with unexploded ordnance.
O rd|nance Su r|vey map (Ordnance Survey maps ) N‑COUNT An Ordnance Survey map is a detailed map produced by the British or Irish government map-making organization.
ore /ɔː r / (ores ) N‑VAR Ore is rock or earth from which metal can be obtained. □ …a huge iron ore mine.
orega|no /ɒ r I gɑː noʊ, [AM ] əre gənoʊ/ N‑UNCOUNT Oregano is a herb that is used in cooking.
or|gan /ɔː r gən/ (organs )
1 N‑COUNT An organ is a part of your body that has a particular purpose or function, for example your heart or lungs. □ …damage to the muscles and internal organs. □ …the reproductive organs. □ …organ transplants.