dictation

[ dik-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or manner of dictating for reproduction in writing.
2. the act or manner of transcribing words uttered by another.
3. words that are dictated or that are reproduced from dictation.
4. the playing or singing of music to be notated by a listener, especially as a technique of training the ear.
5. music notated from dictation.
6. the act of commanding arbitrarily.
7. something commanded.

dictation

/ dɪkˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of dictating material to be recorded or taken down in writing
2. the material dictated
3. authoritative commands or the act of giving them

Derived Forms

• dicˈtational, adjective

Other Words From

• dic·tation·al adjective
• nondic·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dictation¹

1650–60; < Late Latin dictātiōn- (stem of dictātiō ) a dictating < Latin dictāt ( us ) ( dictate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The Champs-Élysées Committee has staged other open-air events in the past, including a mass movie showing and the world’s largest dictation event.

From Seattle Times

"I actually began the whole process by doing a rhythmic dictation of every line of poetry that we used in the opera. And that became the basis for the setting of all the vocal lines. And from there I sort of worked top down to orchestrate," he said.

From BBC

Last Sunday, the famous Champs-Elysees street in Paris was turned into a giant outdoor classroom for a special spelling event called “The Big Dictation”.

From NewsForKids.net

Last Sunday, the famous Champs-Elysees street in Paris was turned into a giant outdoor classroom for a special spelling event called “The Big Dictation”.

From NewsForKids.net

Last Sunday, the famous Champs-Elysees street in Paris was turned into a giant outdoor classroom for a special spelling event called “The Big Dictation”.

From NewsForKids.net

Related Words

• transcription