/byoo rok"reuh see/ , n. , pl. bureaucracies .
1. government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials.
2. the body of officials and administrators, esp. of a government or government department.
3. excessive multiplication of, and concentration of power in, administrative bureaus or administrators.
4. administration characterized by excessive red tape and routine.
[ 1810-20; BUREAU + -CRACY, modeled on F bureaucratie ]