dic·tate
verb/dɪkˈteɪt/
/ˈdɪkteɪt/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they dictate | /dɪkˈteɪt/ /ˈdɪkteɪt/ |
| he / she / it dictates | /dɪkˈteɪts/ /ˈdɪkteɪts/ |
| past simple dictated | /dɪkˈteɪtɪd/ /ˈdɪkteɪtɪd/ |
| past participle dictated | /dɪkˈteɪtɪd/ /ˈdɪkteɪtɪd/ |
| -ing form dictating | /dɪkˈteɪtɪŋ/ /ˈdɪkteɪtɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] to tell somebody what to do, especially in an annoying way
（尤指以令人厌烦的方式）指使，强行规定 - dictate something (to somebody) They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do).
他们没有资格发号施令。 - dictate how, what, etc…/that… What right do they have to dictate how we live our lives?
他们有什么权利强行规定我们该怎样生活？
Extra Examples- It was only the king or queen who could dictate policy.
只有国王或王后才能决定政策。 - This political stance had been dictated by the Prime Minister.
这一政治立场是由总理决定的。
- dictate something (to somebody) They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do).
- [transitive, intransitive] to control or influence how something happens
支配；摆布；决定 - dictate (something) When we take our vacations is very much dictated by Greg's work schedule.
我们什么时候休假在很大程度上取决于格雷格的工作时间安排。 - dictate where, what, etc… It's generally your job that dictates where you live now.
一般说来，你住在什么地方是由你的工作决定的。 - dictate that… The social conventions of the day dictated that she should remain at home with her parents.
那时的社会习俗规定她应该留在家里，与她父母在一起。
Extra Examples- What followed dictated the course of his life.
接下来的事情决定了他的人生轨迹。 - This is clearly the best choice, unless financial considerations dictate otherwise.
这显然是最佳选择，除非经济上不允许。 - She had to remain indoors for 30 days before the wedding, as custom dictates.
按照习俗的规定，婚礼前30天她必须足不出户。
- dictate (something) When we take our vacations is very much dictated by Greg's work schedule.
- [transitive, intransitive] dictate (something) (to somebody) to say words for somebody else to write down or to be recorded
口述 - She dictated the letter to her assistant.
她向助理口授了信稿。 - OK, you write, I'll dictate.
好吧，你来写，我口授。 - Just dictate into the machine, we'll transcribe it later.
只需对机器口述，我们稍后会转录。
- She dictated the letter to her assistant.
Word Originlate 16th cent. (in sense (1)): from Latin dictat- ‘dictated’, from the verb dictare.