don

²don

noun \ˈdän\

Definition of DON

1

: a Spanish nobleman or gentleman —used as a title prefixed to the Christian name

2

archaic : a person of consequence : grandee

3

: a head, tutor, or fellow in a college of Oxford or Cambridge University; broadly : a college or university professor

4

[Italian, title of respect, from donno, literally, lord, from Latin dominus] : a powerful Mafia leader

Origin of DON

Spanish, from Latin dominus master — more at dame

First Known Use: 1523

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis