1 [I,T] dictate (sth) (to sb) to say sth aloud so that sb else can write or type it 口授；读出（文字，让别人听写） [T] to dictate a letter to a secretary 向秘书口授信稿

2 [I,T] dictate (sth) (to sb) to tell sb what to do in a way that seems unfair 专横地指示；专横地命令 · Parents can't dictate to their children how they should run their lives. 父母不能强行规定子女应该怎样生活。

3 [T] to control or influence sth 支配；影响: The kind of house people live in is usually dictated by how much they earn. 人住什么样的房子通常是由他们挣钱多少决定的。