<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>the act of committing or entrusting a person, group, etc., with supervisory power or authority.</li><li>an authoritative order, charge, or direction.</li><li>authority granted for a particular action or function.</li><li>a document granting such authority.</li><li>a document conferring authority issued by the president of the U.S. to officers in the Army, Navy, and other military services, and by state governments to justices of the peace and others.</li><li>the power thus granted.</li><li>the position or rank of an officer in any of the armed forces.</li><li>a group of persons authoritatively charged with particular functions: a parks commission.</li><li>the condition of being placed under special authoritative responsibility or charge.</li><li>a task or matter committed to one's charge; official assignment: The architect received a commission to design an office building.</li><li>the act of committing or perpetrating a crime, error, etc.: The commission of a misdemeanor is punishable by law.</li><li>something that is committed: He was held accountable for his evil commissions.</li><li>authority to act as an agent for another or others in commercial transactions.</li><li>a sum or percentage of what has been paid that is allowed to agents, sales representatives, etc., for their services: In addition to her salary, she will get a 20 percent commission for each sale she makes.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>to give a commission to: to commission a new graduate of a military academy with the rank of lieutenant.</li><li>to authorize; send on a mission: I've been commissioned by my friend overseas to find him a cheap apartment in New York.</li><li>to give the order that places a warship, military command, etc., in a state of complete readiness for active duty.</li><li>to give a commission or order for: The owners commissioned a painting for the building's lobby.</li></ul>