governor
Pluralgovernors
- 1The person who leads a state, province, or colony, either chosen by voters or sent by a king, queen, or government.
Like the leader of a whole state, the way a president leads a country.
The governor signed the new road safety law last week.
Voters chose a new governor in the November election.
UsageSay the governor of a state, or Governor Lee before a name.
- 2A person who helps run a large organization as a member of its board.
Like one of the people on a team that makes the big choices for a group.
The hospital appointed three new governors this year.
She serves as a governor of the local college.
UsageOften a governor of a bank or school, or on the board of governors.
Note
- 3
Less common meanings
- 4A part that automatically controls how fast a machine runs, keeping it steady or stopping it going too fast.
Like a speed limiter that stops a machine from going too fast.
The engine's governor stops it from spinning too fast.
A governor keeps the motor at a safe speed on its own.
Note
- 5
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- 7A person's father or dad.
'My governor will be angry if I fail my exams,' the schoolboy said.
"Say 'father.' We never called him papa; and if one of my brothers had addressed him as 'governor,' as boys do now, I really think he'd have him cut off with a shilling."
1869, Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned GirlNote
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- 9A word in a phrase that controls the grammatical form of another word.
- 10A person who steers a ship or boat and guides where it goes.
Practice
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Origin
It came through Old French from Latin gubernator, "steersman," which was built on a Greek word meaning "to steer." So a governor is like someone who steers.