tribune

1
[ trib-yoon, trih-byoon ]
/ ˈtrɪb yun, trɪˈbyun /

noun

a person who upholds or defends the rights of the people.
Roman History.
  1. any of various administrative officers, especially one of 10 officers elected to protect the interests and rights of the plebeians from the patricians.
  2. any of the six officers of a legion who rotated in commanding the legion during the year.

Origin of tribune

1
1325–75; Middle English < Latin tribūnus, derivative of tribus tribe

OTHER WORDS FROM tribune

trib·une·ship, noun trib·u·ni·tial, trib·u·ni·cial [trib-yuh-nish-uh l] /ˌtrɪb yəˈnɪʃ əl/, adjective

Words nearby tribune

tribromoacetaldehyde, tribromoethanol, tribulation, tribunal, tribunate, tribune, tribune group, tributary, tribute, tribute band, tricalcium silicate

Definition for tribune (2 of 2)

tribune 2
[ trib-yoon, trih-byoon ]
/ ˈtrɪb yun, trɪˈbyun /

noun

a raised platform for a speaker; a dais, rostrum, or pulpit.
a raised part, or gallery, with seats, as in a church.
(in a Christian basilica) the bishop's throne, occupying a recess or apse.
the apse itself.
tribunal(def 3).

Origin of tribune

2
1635–45; < Medieval Latin tribūna; replacing Latin tribūnāle tribunal

Example sentences from the Web for tribune

British Dictionary definitions for tribune (1 of 2)

tribune 1
/ (ˈtrɪbjuːn) /

noun

(in ancient Rome)
  1. an officer elected by the plebs to protect their interests. Originally there were two of these officers but finally there were ten
  2. a senior military officer
a person or institution that upholds public rights; champion

Derived forms of tribune

tribunary, adjective

Word Origin for tribune

C14: from Latin tribunus, probably from tribus tribe

British Dictionary definitions for tribune (2 of 2)

tribune 2
/ (ˈtrɪbjuːn) /

noun

  1. the apse of a Christian basilica that contains the bishop's throne
  2. the throne itself
a gallery or raised area in a church
rare a raised platform from which a speaker may address an audience; dais

Word Origin for tribune

C17: via French from Italian tribuna, from Medieval Latin tribūna, variant of Latin tribūnal tribunal