Command has several related meanings that all involve authority and control:

When you command something, you give an order with the expectation that it will be followed. A ship's captain commands her crew to adjust the sails. A teacher might command the class to sit down and pay attention. The word carries weight: commanding means directing with authority.

In the military, command refers to both the authority itself and the group being led. A general might take command of an army division. Her command includes all the soldiers and resources under her authority. When someone is described as having a commanding presence, they naturally make people want to listen and follow their lead.

The word also means having thorough knowledge or skill with something. A student who has command of multiplication tables knows them cold and can use them confidently. A speaker with command of Spanish can express complex ideas fluently. This kind of command means mastery: complete, confident control of a skill or subject.

In computing, a command is an instruction you give to a computer, like typing a command to save a file or open a program.

Whether you're commanding troops, commanding respect, or commanding a language, the word always suggests control, authority, and confidence.