com·mit·tee   (kə-mĭt'ē)    n.   A group of people officially delegated to perform a function, such as investigating, considering, reporting, or acting on a matter. See Usage Note at collective noun. Archaic A person to whom a trust or charge is committed. [From Middle English committe, trustee, from Anglo-Norman comité, past participle of cometre, to commit, from Latin committere; see commit.]

Committee

Com*mit"tee\, n. [Cf. OF. comit['e] company, and LL. comitatus jurisdiction or territory of a count, county, assize, army. The word was apparently influenced by the verb commit, but not directly formed from it. Cf. County.] One or more persons elected or appointed, to whom any matter or business is referred, either by a legislative body, or by a court, or by any collective body of men acting together.

Committee of the whole [house], a committee, embracing all the members present, into which a legislative or deliberative body sometimes resolves itself, for the purpose of considering a particular measure under the operation of different rules from those governing the general legislative proceedings. The committee of the whole has its own chairman, and reports its action in the form of recommendations.

Standing committee. See under Standing.

committee 

Main Entry: com·mit·tee
Function: noun
1 : a person to whom a charge (as an incompetent) is committed —compare CONSERVATOR, CURATOR, GUARDIAN, TUTOR
2 a : a body of persons delegated or assigned to consider, investigate, act on, or report on some matter; especially : a group of fellow legislators chosen by a legislative body to consider legislative matters (as drafting bills or conducting hearings) committee> —see also CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, JOINT COMMITTEE b : a private organization for the promotion of a common object committees> —compare COUNCIL