n.
Pronunciation: ' g ə -v ə n- ə r also ' g ə -v ə r-n ə r
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 : one that governs: as a : one that exercises authority especially over an area or group b : an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or nominal head of a political unit c : COMMANDING OFFICER d : the managing director and usually the principal officer of an institution or organization e : a member of a group that directs or controls an institution or society
2 : TUTOR
3 a slang : one looked upon as governing b : MISTER , SIR ― usually used as a term of address
4 a : an attachment to a machine (as a gasoline engine) for automatic control or limitation of speed b : a device giving automatic control (as of pressure or temperature)
– gov · er · nor · ate \ - ə t, - ˌ ā t \ noun