dictate
verb
uk/dɪkˈteɪt/ us [ I or T ] WORKPLACE
to speak something aloud for a person or machine to record, so that what is said can be written down:
dictate a letter/memo/reply to sb I dictated a memo to my assistant, to be sent to all staff.
[ T ]
to decide and say what will happen, usually in a forceful way:
dictate terms/conditions At that time the trade unions were allowed to dictate terms, and nothing happened without their agreement.
dictate how/when/what, etc. The government shouldn't dictate how we run our businesses.
[ T ]
to influence something or make it necessary:
The rise in fuel prices was dictated by the market.