professor

[ pruh-fes-er ]
/ prəˈfɛs ər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR professor ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a teacher of the highest academic rank in a college or university, who has been awarded the title Professor in a particular branch of learning; a full professor: a professor of Spanish literature.
any teacher who has the rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor.
a teacher.
an instructor in some art or skilled sport: a professor of singing; a professor of boxing.
a person who professes his or her sentiments, beliefs, etc.

Origin of professor

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin prōfessor one who has taken the vows of a religious order, Latin: a public lecturer, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + -fet-, combining form of fatērī to acknowledge, declare + -tor -tor, with tt > ss

OTHER WORDS FROM professor

Words nearby professor

professional corporation, professional foul, professional standards review organization, professionalism, professionalize, professor, professorate, professoriate, professorship, proffer, profibrinolysin

Words related to professorial

educated, scientific, studied, scholarly, accomplished, well-educated, sound, experienced, versed, cultured, lettered, cultivated, grave, grounded, posted, abstruse, academic, bookish, brainy, conversant

Example sentences from the Web for professorial

British Dictionary definitions for professorial

professor
/ (prəˈfɛsə) /

noun

the principal lecturer or teacher in a field of learning at a university or college; a holder of a university chair
mainly US and Canadian any teacher in a university or college See also associate professor, assistant professor, full professor
a person who claims skill and instructs others in some sport, occupation, etc
a person who professes his opinions, beliefs, etc

Derived forms of professor

professorial (ˌprɒfɪˈsɔːrɪəl), adjective professorially, adverb

Word Origin for professor

C14: from Medieval Latin: one who has made his profession in a religious order, from Latin: a public teacher; see profess