dictation

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪkˈteɪʃən/ UK /dɪkˈteɪʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #24550

Meanings

1

noun
the act of speaking words for another person or a device to write or record

The lawyer drafted the letter by dictation during the train journey.
2

noun
a language-learning exercise in which students write down a passage read aloud

Friday's dictation tested the class on unfamiliar spellings.
3

noun
words that have been dictated, or an authoritative command

The secretary typed the morning's dictation before lunch.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the act of speaking words... dictatingoral composition

2 noun · a language-learning... listening exercisetranscription exercise

3 noun · words that have been... dictated textinstruction command

Opposites

choice discretion

Word family

Derived forms dictationalredictation

Related forms dictate dictator transcription shorthand

Etymology

From Late Latin dictatio, 'the act of dictating,' from dictare, 'to say repeatedly, compose, or prescribe.' Dictare is the frequentative of Latin dicere, 'to say.' The educational sense developed from the practice of reading a passage aloud for learners to reproduce in writing.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# dictation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /dɪkˈteɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪkˈteɪʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 24550

## Meanings
1. the act of speaking words for another person or a device to write or record
2. a language-learning exercise in which students write down a passage read aloud
3. words that have been dictated, or an authoritative command

## Examples
- The lawyer drafted the letter by dictation during the train journey.
- Friday's dictation tested the class on unfamiliar spellings.
- The secretary typed the morning's dictation before lunch.

## Synonyms
- dictating
- transcription exercise
- dictated text
- instruction

## Antonyms
- choice
- discretion

## Derived Forms
- dictational
- redictation

## Related Forms
- dictate
- dictator
- transcription
- shorthand

## Etymology
From Late Latin dictatio, 'the act of dictating,' from dictare, 'to say repeatedly, compose, or prescribe.' Dictare is the frequentative of Latin dicere, 'to say.' The educational sense developed from the practice of reading a passage aloud for learners to reproduce in writing.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown