GOVERNOR Definition & Meaning

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governor

[guhv-er-ner, ‑uh-ner]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the executive head of a state in the U.S.
a person charged with the direction or control of an institution, society, etc..
the governors of a bank; the governor of a prison.
Also called governor general.��the representative of the crown, as in the Commonwealth of Nations.
a ruler or chief magistrate appointed to govern a province, town, fort, or the like.
Machinery.��a device for maintaining uniform speed regardless of changes of load, as by regulating the supply of fuel or working fluid.
British Informal.��
1. one's father.
2. one's employer.
3. any man of superior rank or status.

governor

/ ˈɡʌ��ə��ə /

noun

a person who governs
the ruler or chief magistrate of a colony, province, etc
the representative of the Crown in a British colony
the senior administrator or head of a society, prison, etc
the chief executive of any state in the US
a device that controls the speed of an engine, esp by regulating the supply of fuel, etc, either to limit the maximum speed or to maintain a constant speed
Also called: head.��grammar
1. a word in a phrase or clause that is the principal item and gives the function of the whole, as hat in the big red hat
2. ( as modifier )
  a governor noun
informal��a name or title of respect for a father, employer, etc

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Pronunciation Note

In governor, the process of dissimilation—the tendency for neighboring like sounds to become unlike or for one of them to disappear entirely—commonly results in the loss of the first of , producing the pronunciation . This pronunciation is heard even in regions where postvocalic is not usually dropped. A further loss, of the medial unstressed vowel, results in . All three pronunciations are standard. See colonel, February, library.

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

subgovernor noun
undergovernor noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of governor¹

1250–1300; Middle English governour < Old French governeor, gouverneur < Latin ��ܲ��ō��, accusative of ��ܲ��ٴǰ�, equivalent to ��ܲ��(��) to steer, govern + -tor -tor

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On Thursday, the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors formally declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years.

From

The former South Dakota governor would have some reason to recognize Padilla, since he questioned her during her Senate confirmation hearing.

From

This week, the watchdog's board of governors formally declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years.

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The governor had asked for an order that barred Marines and National Guard members deployed in Los Angeles from being used in law enforcement actions.

From

A president last deployed the National Guard without a governor's consent more than 50 years ago - during the civil rights era.

From

governmenty governorate

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