/ ˈgʌvənə(r); NAmE -vərn-/ noun
1.
(also Governor ) a person who is the official head of a country or region that is governed by another country :
the former governor of the colony
a provincial governor
2.
(also Governor ) a person who is chosen to be in charge of the government of a state in the US :
the governor of Arizona
the Arizona governor
Governor Tom Kean
3.
( especially BrE ) a member of a group of people who are responsible for controlling an institution such as a school, a college or a hospital :
a school governor
the board of governors of the college
4.
( BrE ) a person who is in charge of an institution :
a prison governor
the governor of the Bank of England
( informal )
I can't decide. I'll have to ask the governor (= the man in charge, who employs sb) .
—see also guv'nor
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French governeour , from Latin gubernator , from gubernare to steer, rule, from Greek kubernan to steer.