Main Entry: gov·er·nor

Pronunciation: \ˈgə-v^ən-ər also ˈgə-vər-nər\

Function: noun

Date: 14th century

1 : one that governs: as a : one that exercises authority especially over an area or group b : an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or nominal head of a political unit c : commanding officer d : the managing director and usually the principal officer of an institution or organization e : a member of a group that directs or controls an institution or society
2 : tutor
3 a slang : one looked upon as governing b : mister, sir —usually used as a term of address
4 a : an attachment to a machine (as a gasoline engine) for automatic control or limitation of speed b : a device giving automatic control (as of pressure or temperature)

— gov·er·nor·ate \-ət, -ˌāt\ noun