dean
Education.
the head of a faculty, school, or administrative division in a university or college: the dean of admissions.
an official in an American college or secondary school having charge of student personnel services, such as counseling or discipline: the dean of men.
the official in charge of undergraduate students at an English university.
Ecclesiastical.
the head of the chapter of a cathedral or a collegiate church.
Also called vicar forane. a priest in the Roman Catholic Church appointed by a bishop to take care of the affairs of a division of a diocese.
the senior member, in length of service, of any group, organization, profession, etc.: the dean of lexicographers.
Origin of dean
1Other words from dean
- deanship, noun
Other definitions for Dean (2 of 2)
James (Byron), 1931–55, U.S. actor.
Jay Hanna "Dizzy", 1911–74, U.S. baseball pitcher.
a male given name: from the Old English family name meaning “valley.”
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for dean (1 of 3)
/ (diːn) /
the chief administrative official of a college or university faculty
(at Oxford and Cambridge universities) a college fellow with responsibility for undergraduate discipline
mainly Church of England the head of a chapter of canons and administrator of a cathedral or collegiate church
RC Church the cardinal bishop senior by consecration and head of the college of cardinals: See also rural dean Related adjective: decanal
Origin of dean
1Derived forms of dean
- deanship, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Dean (2 of 3)
/ (diːn) /
Forest of Dean a forest in W England, in Gloucestershire, between the Rivers Severn and Wye: formerly a royal hunting ground
British Dictionary definitions for Dean (3 of 3)
/ (diːn) /
Christopher. See Torvill and Dean
James (Byron). 1931–55, US film actor, who became a cult figure; his films include East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause (both 1955). He died in a car crash
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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