author

American  

[aw-ther] / ˈɔ θər /

noun

1. a person who writes a novel, poem, essay, etc.; the composer of a literary work, as distinguished from a compiler, translator, editor, or copyist.

2. the literary production or productions of a writer.

   to find a passage in an author.

3. the maker of anything; creator; originator.

   the author of a new tax plan.

4. Computers. the writer of a software program, especially a hypertext or multimedia application.

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verb (used with object)

1. to write; be the author of.

   He authored a history of the Civil War.

2. to originate; create a design for.

   She authored a new system for teaching chemistry.

author British  

/ ɔːˈθɔːrɪəl, ˈɔːθə /

noun

1. a person who composes a book, article, or other written work

2. a person who writes books as a profession; writer

3. the writings of such a person

   reviewing a postwar author

4. an originator or creator

   the author of this plan

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verb

1. to write or originate

Other Word Forms

• authorial adjective
• authorless adjective
• multiauthored adjective
• proauthor adjective

Etymology

Origin of author

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English auct(h)or, from Latin auctor “founder, originator, writer,” equivalent to aug(ēre) “to increase” ( augment ) + -tor -tor; replacing Middle English auto(u)r, from Anglo-French; Old French autor, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

In addition, the authors reviewed dozens of related clinical, translational, and mechanistic studies involving wild blueberries, cultivated blueberries, and a wide range of cardiometabolic outcomes.

From Science Daily

"Such a model works well to interpret the observations," said Professor Yuanpei YANG, a professor from Yunnan University and a co-first author of the paper.

From Science Daily

In her letter to the Anderson City Council, Vorhis said international students are “authorized through established federal processes” and are subject to U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s virtually parallel with weight gain,” says Sam West, a physiologist and postdoctoral researcher at University of Oxford in England who was lead author of the BMJ review.

From The Wall Street Journal

People close to the morning program who were not authorized to comment publicly believe King would return for another contract.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• biographer
• columnist
• composer
• creator
• journalist
• poet
• producer
• reporter
• writer