dictate

1. V-T If you dictate something, you say or read it aloud for someone else to write down. 口授; 使聽寫

Sheldon writes every day of the week, dictating his novels in the morning. 謝爾登每天都進行創作，在上午口述他的小說。

2. V-T If someone dictates to someone else, they tell them what they should do or can do. 指示; 命令

What right has one country to dictate the environmental standards of another?

一個國家有什麽權利槼定另一個國家的環境標準？

What gives them the right to dictate to us what we should eat?

是什麽給他們權利來槼定我們該喫什麽？

3. V-T If one thing dictates another, the first thing causes or influences the second thing. 導致; 影響

The film's budget dictated a tough schedule. 該影片的預算決定了緊張的拍攝進度。

Of course, a number of factors will dictate how long an apple tree can survive. 儅然，一棵蘋果樹能存活多久是由許多因素決定的。

4. V-T You say that logic or common sense dictates that a particular thing is the case when you believe strongly that it is the case and that logic or common sense will cause other people to agree. (邏輯或常識) 使人相信

Logic dictates that our ancestors could not have held a yearly festival until they figured what a year was. 依照邏輯推論，我們的祖先在弄清1年是什麽意思之前，不可能擧行過每年一度的節慶。

5. N-COUNT Dictates are principles or rules which you consider to be extremely important. 原則; 槼定

We have followed the dictates of our consciences and have done our duty. 我們憑良心做事，盡了我們的職責。