dean Meaning & Definition
What Does Dean Mean?
As a noun, dean means A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students). It can also mean A dignitary or presiding officer in certain church bodies, especially an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop, in charge of a chapter of canons. As a verb, it means To serve as a dean. As a verb, it means To send (a student) to see the dean of a university.
Dean: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /diːn/ |
| Synonyms | doyen and provost |
| Plural | deans |
| Verb forms | deans, deaning, deaned |
Dean Definition (Noun)
- A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students).
- A dignitary or presiding officer in certain church bodies, especially an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop, in charge of a chapter of canons.
- The senior member of some group of people.
dean of the diplomatic corps - a country's most senior ambassador
Dean as a Verb
- To serve as a dean.
- To send (a student) to see the dean of a college or university.
Noun
- A hill.
Noun
- Alternative form of dene.
Verb
- To send (a student) to see the dean of a university.
Noun
- (chiefly in place names) A hill.
Synonyms of Dean
Dean synonyms and antonyms →Dean in a Sentence
dean of the diplomatic corps - a country's most senior ambassador
dean of the House - the longest-serving member of a legislature
Word Forms & Grammar
dean (plural deans)
dean (third-person singular simple present deans, present participle deaning, simple past and past participle deaned)
Words That Rhyme With Dean
Origin of Dean
Origin 1: From Middle English den, deen (“dean”), from Anglo-Norman deen and continental Old French deien (modern French doyen), from Latin decānus. Doublet of doyen.
Origin 2: Related to den.
Common Questions About Dean
Is dean a noun or a verb?
Dean is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for dean?
Words with a similar meaning to dean include doyen and provost. See the full list of dean synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of dean?
The plural of dean is deans.
What is the past tense of dean?
The past tense of dean is deaned. The present participle is deaning.