dictate

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

Sheldon writes every day of the week, dictating his novels in the morning. 谢尔登每天都进行创作，在上午口述他的小说。

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?

一个国家有什么权利规定另一个国家的环境标准？

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

是什么给他们权利来规定我们该吃什么？

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

The film's budget dictated a tough schedule. 该影片的预算决定了紧张的拍摄进度。

Of course, a number of factors will dictate how long an apple tree can survive. 当然，一棵苹果树能存活多久是由许多因素决定的。

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. (逻辑或常识) 使人相信

Logic dictates that our ancestors could not have held a yearly festival until they figured what a year was. 依照逻辑推论，我们的祖先在弄清1年是什么意思之前，不可能举行过每年一度的节庆。

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

We have followed the dictates of our consciences and have done our duty. 我们凭良心做事，尽了我们的职责。