1 VERB If the armed forces commandeer a vehicle or building owned by someone else, they officially take charge of it so that they can use it. □ [V n] The soldiers commandeered vehicles in the capital and occupied the television station. □ [V -ed] They drove in convoy round the city in commandeered cars.
2 VERB To commandeer something owned by someone else means to take charge of it so that you can use it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] The hijacker commandeered the plane on a domestic flight.
com|mand|er ◆◇◇ /kəmɑː ndə r , -mæ nd-/ (commanders )
1 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A commander is an officer in charge of a military operation or organization. □ The commander and some of the men had been released. □ …Commander Bob Marks.
2 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A commander is an officer in the Royal Navy or the U.S. Navy. COLLOCATIONS commander NOUN 1
noun + commander : army; battalion, brigade, platoon, section, squadron
adjective + commander : military, naval; senior, supreme; rebel
comma nder-in-chie f (commanders-in-chief ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A commander-in-chief is a senior officer who is in charge of all the forces in a particular area. □ [+ of ] He was to be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
com|mand|ing /kəmɑː nd I ŋ, -mæ nd-/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you are in a commanding position or situation, you are in a strong or powerful position or situation. □ Right now you're in a more commanding position than you have been for ages. □ The French vessel has a commanding lead.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as commanding , you mean that they are powerful and confident. [APPROVAL ] □ Lovett was a tall, commanding man with a waxed gray moustache. □ The voice at the other end of the line was serious and commanding.
3 → see also command
com|ma nd|ing o f|fic|er (commanding officers ) N‑COUNT A commanding officer is an officer who is in charge of a military unit. □ He got permission from his commanding officer to join me.
com|mand|ment /kəmɑː ndmənt, -mæ nd-/ (commandments ) N‑COUNT The Ten Commandments are the ten rules of behaviour which, according to the Old Testament of the Bible, people should obey.
com|man|do /kəmɑː ndoʊ, -mæ nd-/ (commandos or commandoes )
1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A commando is a group of soldiers who have been specially trained to carry out surprise attacks. □ [+ of ] …a small commando of marines. □ The hostages were freed in the commando raid.
2 N‑COUNT A commando is a soldier who is a member of a commando.
com|ma nd per|fo r|mance (command performances ) N‑COUNT A command performance is a special performance of a play or show which is given for a head of state.
com|ma nd post (command posts ) N‑COUNT A command post is a place from which a commander in the army controls and organizes his forces.
com|memo|rate /kəme məre I t/ (commemorates , commemorating , commemorated ) VERB To commemorate an important event or person means to remember them by means of a special action, ceremony, or specially-created object. □ [V n] One room contained a gallery of paintings commemorating great moments in baseball history. ● com|memo|ra|tion /kəme məre I ʃ ə n/ (commemorations ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …a part of Jews' commemoration of Passover.
com|memo|ra|tive /kəme mərət I v/ ADJ [ADJ n] A commemorative object or event is intended to make people remember a particular event or person. □ The Queen unveiled a commemorative plaque.
com|mence /kəme ns/ (commences , commencing , commenced ) VERB When something commences or you commence it, it begins. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] The academic year commences at the beginning of October. □ [V n] They commenced a systematic search. □ [V to-inf] The hunter knelt beside the animal carcass and commenced to skin it. [Also V v-ing]
com|mence|ment /kəme nsmənt/ (commencements )
1 N‑UNCOUNT The commencement of something is its beginning. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] All should be at least 16 years of age at the commencement of this course.
2 N‑VAR [usu N n] Commencement is a ceremony at a university, college, or high school at which students formally receive their degrees or diplomas. [AM ] in BRIT, use graduation
com|mend /kəme nd/ (commends , commending , commended )
1 VERB If you commend someone or something, you praise them formally. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + for/on ] I commended her for that action. □ [V n + for/on ] I commend Ms. Orth on writing such an informative article. □ [be V -ed + for ] The book was widely commended for its candour. □ [V n] The reports commend her bravery. □ [be V -ed + by ] His actions were commended by the Jury. ● com|men|da|tion /kɒ mende I ʃ ə n/ (commendations ) N‑COUNT □ [+ from ] The Company received a commendation from the Royal Society of Arts.
2 VERB If someone commends a person or thing to you, they tell you that you will find them good or useful. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] I can commend it to him as a realistic course of action.
com|mend|able /kəme ndəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as commendable , you approve of it or are praising it. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ Mr Sparrow has acted with commendable speed.