noun
dean
deen
noun
1
A senior official at a university or college, often heading a faculty or overseeing student affairs.
"The dean of the law school opened the ceremony."
"Students with grievances could appeal to the dean."
2
A senior clergy member in charge of a cathedral chapter, ranking below a bishop.
"The dean led the service in the bishop's absence."
3
The most senior or longest-serving member of a group.
"He was the dean of the press corps, having covered the White House for thirty years."
How to Use Dean
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA senior academic or church official, or the most senior/experienced member of a group.
Common pairings
dean of students
cathedral dean
dean of the faculty
Word Forms
deaned past tense, deans plural, deans plural, deans singular
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The _____ of the law school opened the ceremony.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman deen, ultimately from Latin decanus (originally "head of ten"), a doublet of the word doyen.