n. & v.
n. 1 any of various persons or devices for checking or warning about a situation, operation, etc. 2 a school pupil with disciplinary or other special duties. 3 a a television receiver used in a studio to select or verify the picture being broadcast. b = visual display unit. 4 a person who listens to and reports on foreign broadcasts etc. 5 a detector of radioactive contamination. 6 Zool. any tropical lizard of the genus Varanus, supposed to give warning of the approach of crocodiles. 7 a heavily armed shallow-draught warship.
v.tr. 1 act as a monitor of. 2 maintain regular surveillance over. 3 regulate the strength of (a recorded or transmitted signal). monitorial adj. monitorship n.
[ L f. monere monit- warn ]