kyəˈrā]d.ə(r), ˈkyu̇ˌrā], ˈkyu̇rə], ˈkyüˌrā], ]tə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English curatour guardian, curate, from Middle French curateur, from Old French, from Latin curator manager, overseer, guardian, from curatus + -or
1.
a. Roman law : a person corresponding nearly to the guardian of English law and appointed to manage the affairs of a person past the age of puberty while he is a minor or of any such person when legally incompetent (as a spendthrift or a lunatic)
b. : a similar guardian in various modern legal systems (as the Scots law or Roman Dutch law) appointed for minors or others past the age of pupillarity
2.
[Latin\]
a. : a person having the care and superintendence of something : overseer , manager , steward
b. : one in charge of the exhibits, research activities, and personnel of a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit
c. : one in charge of a single collection or subject of study in such an institution
curator of manuscripts
curator of birds
3.
a. : a member of a board of trustees charged with administering the business of a university or a division thereof
curators of the university
curators of the university library
b. : a member of a body that elects certain professors at Scottish universities
the patronage of seventeen chairs, previously in the gift of the Town Council, was transferred to seven curators — Edinburgh University Cal.
c. : the director of an educational fund who is entrusted with selecting and advising holders of fellowships under that fund
curator of fellowships
4. : a cricket groundsman