How would you respond if you were asked what it means for someone to be ordained?
Perhaps you would say it means that someone is becoming a minister. That's partly right, although people can also be ordained into other positions such as Teacher, Deacon, or Deaconess, so it's not just about being a minister.
You might try to describe it as some type of promotion. But that can't be it — it makes it sound like some members are higher up than other members, and that's not consistent with the teachings of Christ. In fact, Jesus said, "whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:27).
You might think of it as someone being honored, but that's not exactly it either. That would mean that we're being recognized for our accomplishments whereas the scriptures say that God ordains us "not according to our works, but according to his own purpose" (2 Timothy 1:9).
Although it's not about being personally honored, it is in fact an honor to be given the opportunity to serve God in an ordained office. The scriptures do describe it this way, adding that "no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God" (Hebrews 5:4). Hmm, being "called of God" — there's a definition we can work with.