[rab.bi] n [ME, fr. OE, fr. LL, fr. Gk rhabbi, fr. Heb rabbi my master, fr. rabh master + -i my] (bef. 12c) 1: master, teacher--used by Jews as a term of address
2: a Jew qualified to expound and apply the halakah and other Jewish law
3: a Jew trained and ordained for professional religious leadership; specif: the official leader of a Jewish congregation