sen ‧ ate BrE AmE , Senate /ˈsenət, ˈsenɪt/ noun
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: senat , from Latin senatus , from senex 'old man' ]
1 .
a) the Senate the smaller and more important of the two parts of the government with the power to make laws, in countries such as the US, Australia, and France:
The Senate approved the bill.
b) [countable] a similar part of the government in many US states:
the California state senate
2 . the Senate the highest level of government in ancient Rome
3 . [countable] the governing council at some universities