/ ˈsenət; NAmE / noun (usually the Senate )
1.
[ sing. ] one of the two groups of elected politicians who make laws in some countries, for example in the US, Australia, Canada and France. The Senate is smaller than the other group but higher in rank. Many state parliaments in the US also have a Senate :
a member of the Senate
a Senate committee
—compare Congress , the House of Representatives
2.
[ C , usually sing. , U ] (in some countries) the group of people who control a university :
the senate of London University
3.
[ sing. ] (in ancient Rome) the most important council of the government; the building where the council met
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French senat , from Latin senatus , from senex old man.