ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dean

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdin// UK //dˈiːn// dean Archaic Informal

n. the person in charge of a specific part of a college or university. They often look after the students or the teachers in one department.

n. the administrative head of a university faculty or department, or a high-ranking official in charge of student affairs.


SIMPLE

The dean will meet with the students tomorrow.

CONTEXTUAL

After the protest, the dean of students promised to review the university's housing policy.

COMPLEX

Securing a research grant often requires the formal approval of the dean, who must balance the department's academic goals with its current fiscal constraints.

Synonyms
Origin

The surname or given name is of multiple origins, depending on context: * As an English surname, from Middle English dene (“valley”). * Also as an English surname, from the noun dean. Cognate to Deacon. * Also as an English surname, from the personal name Deyne, a rhyming form of Reynald (see Reginald). * As an Irish surname, variant of Deane. * As a Scottish surname, from Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, itself from the noun meaning valley. * Old English Dene (“Dane, Norseman”) * Hebrew דין (“law, judgment”) and Arabic دين (“way of life, creed”)

Usage

Often used as a title before a surname, in which case it is capitalized.

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