dean Hear it!

dean definition

dean (dēn)

noun

    1. the presiding official of a cathedral or collegiate church
    2. R.C.Ch. a priest chosen by his bishop to supervise a number of parishes within the diocese
  2. ☆ an official of a school, college, or university, esp. one in charge of students, faculty, or a division of studies
    1. the senior member of a particular group
    2. an experienced and preeminent member of a group the dean of American poets

Etymology: ME den < OFr deien, dean < LL(Ec) decanus, chief of ten monks < LL(Ec), leader of ten < L decem, ten

Related Forms:

Dean definition

Dean (dēn)

noun

a masculine name

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.