Professor
Pronunciation
- RP IPA: /pɹəˈfɛsə/
- GenAm IPA: /pɹəˈfɛsɚ/
Alternative forms
- professour archaic
Origin
From Anglo-Norman proffessur, from Latin professor ("declarer, person who claims knowledge"), from the past participle stem of profiteor ("profess").
Full definition of professor
Noun
professor
(plural professors)- A teacher or faculty member at a college or university.
- A higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university. Abbreviated Prof.
- An honorific title for a higher ranking teacher. (Capitalised)Professor Plum or Prof. Plum.
- (archaic) One who professes.
- 1897, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers (transl.) The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, Introduction, p. v:This period in which Abraham the Jew lived was one in which Magic was almost universally believed in, and in which its Professors were held in honour;
- (US, slang) A pianist in a saloon, brothel, etc.
- 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 415:You could hear ... pianos under the hands of whorehouse professors sounding like they came with keys between the keys.
- The puppeteer who performs a Punch and Judy show; a Punchman.