monarch
n.-
1 a ruler (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea person who rules a kingdom or empire, such as a king, queen, or emperor.
a hereditary sovereign, such as a king, queen, or emperor, who acts as the head of state in a monarchy.
ExampleThe monarch addressed the nation from the palace balcony during the jubilee.
ExampleIn a constitutional monarchy, the monarch typically serves as a symbolic figurehead while legislative power resides with an elected parliament.
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2 the best of its kind (n.) C2 Proficiency Literarythe most important or powerful thing in a particular group.
a person or thing that holds a preeminent position or is considered the best of its class.
ExampleThe old oak tree stood like a monarch over the rest of the forest.
ExampleThe mountain was the undisputed monarch of the range, its snow-capped peak towering thousands of feet above the surrounding summits.
From Middle French monarque, from Late Latin monarcha, from Ancient Greek μονάρχης (monárkhēs), variant of μόναρχος (mónarkhos, “sole ruler”), from μόνος (mónos, “only”) + ἀρχός (arkhós, “leader”), equivalent to mono- + -arch. * (butterfly): See monarch butterfly.