n.1 a person who governs; a ruler.
2 a an official governing a province, town, etc. b a representative of the Crown in a colony.
3 the executive head of each State of the US.
4 an officer commanding a fortress or garrison.
5 the head or a member of a governing body of an institution.
6 the official in charge of a prison.
7 a sl. one's employer. b sl. one's father. c colloq. (as a form of address) sir.
8 Mech. an automatic regulator controlling the speed of an engine etc.
Phrases and idioms:
Governor-General the representative of the Crown in a Commonwealth country that regards the Queen as Head of State.
Derivatives:
governorate n. governorship n.
Etymology: ME f. AF gouvernour, OF govern{euml}o(u)r f. L gubernator -oris (as GOVERN)