ˈsenə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English senat, from Old French, from Latin senatus, literally, council of elders, from sen-, senex old, old man + -atus -ate — more at senior
1.
a. : an assembly or council usually possessing high deliberative and legislative functions: as
(1) : the supreme council of the ancient Roman republic and empire
(2) : the governing body in various European free cities
the Senate of Frankfort
(3) : the second chamber in the bicameral legislature of a major political unit (as a nation, state, or province)
the Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state — U.S. Constitution
the New York State Legislature consists of an assembly and a senate — Robert Rienow
b. : a governing or legislative assembly held to resemble such a senate
2. : the hall or chamber in which a senate meets
the floor of the senate
3.
a. : a governing body of a British university charged with maintaining academic standards and regulations and usually made up of principal or representative members of the faculty — compare council 4c, court
b. : a similar body at an American university