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Definition of professor - 3 dictionary results

pro⋅fes⋅sor

  [pruh-fes-er]
Use professor in a Sentence
–noun
1. a teacher of the highest academic rank in a college or university, who has been awarded the title Professor in a particular branch of learning; a full professor: a professor of Spanish literature.
2. any teacher who has the rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor.
3. a teacher.
4. an instructor in some art or skilled sport: a professor of singing; a professor of boxing.
5. a person who professes his or her sentiments, beliefs, etc.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML prōfessor one who has taken the vows of a religious order, L: a public lecturer, equiv. to prō- pro- 1 + -fet-, comb. form of fatērī to acknowledge, declare + -tor -tor, with tt > ss

Related forms:
pro⋅fes⋅so⋅ri⋅al  [proh-fuh-sawr-ee-uhl, -sohr-, prof-uh-] , adjective
pro⋅fes⋅so⋅ri⋅al⋅ism, noun
pro⋅fes⋅so⋅ri⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To professor
pro·fes·sor   (prə-fěs'ər)   
n.  

    1. A college or university teacher who ranks above an associate professor.

    2. A teacher or instructor.

  2. One who professes.


[Middle English professour, from Old French professeur, from Latin professor, from professus, past participle of profitērī, to profess; see profess.]
pro'fes·so'ri·al (prō'fĭ-sôr'ē-əl, -sōr'-, prŏf'ĭ-) adj., pro'fes·so'ri·al·ly adv., pro·fes'sor·ship' n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

professor 
c.1380, from L. professor "person who professes to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of highest rank," agent noun from profitieri "lay claim to, declare openly" (see profess). As a title prefixed to a name, it dates from 1706. Short form prof is recorded from 1838. Professorial (1713) is from L.L. professorius "pertaining to a public teacher."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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