/ ədˈmɪnɪstə(r); NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
[ often passive ] to manage and organize the affairs of a company, an organization, a country, etc.
SYN manage :
to administer a charity / fund / school
The pension funds are administered by commercial banks.
2.
to make sure that sth is done fairly and in the correct way :
to administer justice / the law
The questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers.
3.
administer sth (to sb) ( formal ) to give or to provide sth, especially in a formal way :
The teacher has the authority to administer punishment.
4.
[ often passive ] administer sth (to sb) ( formal ) to give drugs, medicine, etc. to sb :
The dose was administered to the child intravenously.
Police believe his wife could not have administered the poison.
5.
administer a kick, a punch, etc. (to sb/sth) ( formal ) to kick or to hit sb/sth :
He administered a severe blow to his opponent's head.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin administrare , from ad- to + ministrare wait upon, from minister servant, from minus less.