dominate

[ dom-uh-neyt ]

/ ˈdɒm əˌneɪt /

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verb (used with object), dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing.

to rule over; govern; control.

to tower above; overlook; overshadow: A tall pine dominated the landscape.

to predominate, permeate, or characterize.

Mathematics. (of a series, vector, etc.) to have terms or components greater in absolute value than the corresponding terms or components of a given series, vector, etc.

Linguistics. (of a node in a tree diagram) to be connected with (a subordinate node) either directly by a single downward branch or indirectly by a sequence of downward branches.

verb (used without object), dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing.

to rule; exercise control; predominate.

to occupy a commanding or elevated position.

Nearby words

dominant inheritance, dominant seventh chord, dominant tenement, dominant trait, dominant wavelength, dominate, domination, dominations, dominative, dominatrix, domine

Origin of dominate

1605–15; < Latin dominātus (past participle of dominārī to master, control), equivalent to domin- (stem of dominus) master + -ātus -ate¹

Related forms

dom·i·nat·ing·ly, adverbdom·i·na·tor, nounnon·dom·i·nat·ing, adjectiveo·ver·dom·i·nate, verb (used with object), o·ver·dom·i·nat·ed, o·ver·dom·i·nat·ing.

re·dom·i·nate, verb, re·dom·i·nat·ed, re·dom·i·nat·ing.un·dom·i·nat·ed, adjectivewell-dom·i·nat·ed, adjective

Can be confused

dominant dominate domineer (see synonym study at dominant)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dominator

Until he was beaten he was dominator, arbiter, and despot, if he chose to be.
The Grizzly King|James Oliver Curwood
Had he not been the very monk he was, he would not have been the dominator of men and situations that he proved himself to be.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume I of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor
Verse is no dominator over the poet, except inasmuch as the bond is reciprocal, and the poet dominates over the verse.
English Critical Essays|Various
He was tender and he was happy, but he was, after all, the dominator.
The Precipice|Elia Wilkinson Peattie

My creature, viz., a particular expression of will, would have become my dominator.
Anarchism|Paul Eltzbacher

British Dictionary definitions for dominator

dominate

/ (ˈdɒmɪˌneɪt) /

verb

to control, rule, or govern (someone or something)

to tower above (surroundings, etc); overlook

(tr; usually passive) to predominate in (something or someone)

Derived Forms

dominating, adjectivedominatingly, adverbdominative, adjectivedominator, noun

Word Origin for dominate

C17: from Latin dominārī to be lord over, from dominus lord

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dominate

verb (used with object), dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing.

verb (used without object), dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing.

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Nearby words

Origin of dominate

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for dominator

British Dictionary definitions for dominator

dominate

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for dominate