/ diːn; NAmE / noun
1.
( in the Anglican Church ) a priest of high rank who is in charge of the other priests in a cathedral
2.
(also ˌrural ˈdean ) ( BrE ) a priest who is in charge of the priests of several churches in an area
3.
a person in a university who is in charge of a department of studies
4.
(in a college or university, especially at Oxford or Cambridge) a person who is responsible for the discipline of students
5.
( NAmE ) = doyen
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French deien , from late Latin decanus chief of a group of ten, from decem ten. Compare with doyen .