emperor
n.-
1 ruler of an empire (n.) B1 Intermediatethe male ruler of an empire, which is a large group of countries or states.
the male sovereign or supreme ruler of an empire. Historically, this title suggests authority over multiple kingdoms or diverse territories.
ExampleThe emperor ruled over a vast territory that stretched across two continents.
ExampleHistorians often debate whether the emperor possessed absolute power or was merely a figurehead for the military elite.
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2 emperor penguin (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Sciencea very large penguin that lives in the Antarctic.
a common shorthand for the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species.
ExampleWe watched a documentary about how the emperor survives the freezing winter.
ExampleThe emperor is unique among birds for its ability to breed during the harshest conditions of the Antarctic winter.
- emperor penguin
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3 tarot card (n.) C2 Proficiency Technicala specific card in a tarot deck that usually shows a powerful man.
the fourth trump or major arcana card in a tarot deck, typically symbolising authority, structure, and fatherhood.
ExampleShe drew the Emperor card, which the reader said meant she needed more discipline.
ExampleIn many occult traditions, the Emperor represents the archetypal father and the imposition of order upon the material world.
From Middle English emperour, from Anglo-Norman emperour, from Latin imperātorem, derived from imperō (“to command”). Doublet of imperator. Displaced earlier Old English casere, from Latin Caesar.