The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word RANK
R
A
N
K
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Absolute/order" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case absolute/order = rank.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does RANK mean?
RANK adjective- Strong of its kind or in character; unmitigated; virulent; thorough; utter (used of negative things).
- Strong in growth; growing with vigour or rapidity, hence, coarse or gross.
- Suffering from overgrowth or hypertrophy; plethoric.
- Causing strong growth; producing luxuriantly; rich and fertile.
- Strong to the senses; offensive; noisome.
- Having a very strong and bad taste or odor.
- Complete, used as an intensifier (usually negative, referring to incompetence).
- Gross, disgusting.
- Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong.
- Inflamed with venereal appetite; ruttish.
- Quickly, eagerly, impetuously.
- A row of people or things organized in a grid pattern, often soldiers [the corresponding term for the perpendicular columns in such a pattern is "file"].
- In a pipe organ, a set of pipes of a certain quality for which each pipe corresponds to one key or pedal.
- One's position in a list sorted by a shared property such as physical location, population, or quality
- The level of one's position in a class-based society
- A hierarchical level in an organization such as the military
- A level in a scientific taxonomy system
- Maximal number of linearly independent columns (or rows) of a matrix.
- The dimensionality of an array or tensor.
- The maximum quantity of D-linearly independent elements of a module (over an integral domain D).
- The size of any basis of a given matroid.
- One of the eight horizontal lines of squares on a chessboard (i.e., those identified by a number). The analog vertical lines are the files.
- (typically in the plural) A category of people, such as those who share an occupation.
- To place abreast, or in a line.
- To have a ranking.
- To assign a suitable place in a class or order; to classify.
- To take rank of; to outrank.