■ noun
1》 an official appointed to govern a town or region.
↘the elected executive head of a US state.
↘the representative of the British Crown in a colony or in a Commonwealth state that regards the monarch as head of state.
2》 the head of a public institution.
↘a member of a governing body.
3》 Brit. informal the person in authority.
4》 a device automatically regulating the supply of fuel, steam, or water to a machine.
Derivatives
~ate noun
~ship noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. governeour , from L. gubernator , from gubernare (see govern ).