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don

1
[ don; Spanish, Italian dawn ]
/ dɒn; Spanish, Italian dɔn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR don

noun

(initial capital letter) Mr.; Sir: a Spanish title prefixed to a man's given name.
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a lord or gentleman.
(initial capital letter) an Italian title of address, especially for a priest.
a person of great importance.
(in the English universities) a head, fellow, or tutor of a college.
(in the Mafia) a head of a family or syndicate.

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Origin of don

1
1515–25; <Spanish, Italian <Latin dominus

Words nearby don

Domitian, domme, Domnus, Domrémy-la-Pucelle, Dom. Rep., don, dona, donable, Donald, Donar, donate

Definition for don (2 of 5)

don2
[ don ]
/ dɒn /

verb (used with object), donned, don·ning.

to put on or dress in: to don one's clothes.

Origin of don

2
1560–70; contraction of do1 + on; cf. doff

Definition for don (3 of 5)

don3
[ dohn ]
/ doʊn /

conjunction

(in prescriptions) donec.

Origin of don

3
By shortening

Definition for don (4 of 5)

Don1
[ don; for 1 also Russian dawn ]
/ dɒn; for 1 also Russian dɔn /

noun

a river flowing generally S from Tula in the Russian Federation in Europe, to the Sea of Azov. About 1,200 miles (1,930 km) long.
a river in NE Scotland, flowing E from Aberdeen county to the North Sea. 62 miles (100 km) long.
a river in central England, flowing NE from S Yorkshire to the Humber estuary. 60 miles (97 km) long.
a male given name, form of Donald.

Definition for don (5 of 5)

Don2
[ dawn ]
/ dɔn /

noun Welsh Mythology.

a goddess, the mother of Gwydion and Arianrod: corresponds to the Irish Danu.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to don

dress, put on, wear, enrobe

Example sentences from the Web for don

British Dictionary definitions for don (1 of 4)

don1
/ (dɒn) /

verb dons, donning or donned

(tr) to put on (clothing)

Word Origin for don

C14: from do 1 + on; compare doff

British Dictionary definitions for don (2 of 4)

don2
/ (dɒn) /

noun

British a member of the teaching staff at a university or college, esp at Oxford or Cambridge
the head of a student dormitory at certain Canadian universities and colleges
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
(in the Mafia) the head of a family

Word Origin for don

C17: ultimately from Latin dominus lord

British Dictionary definitions for don (3 of 4)

Don1
/ (dɒn, Spanish don) /

noun

a Spanish title equivalent to Mr : placed before a name to indicate respect

Word Origin for Don

C16: via Spanish, from Latin dominus lord; see don ²

British Dictionary definitions for don (4 of 4)

Don2
/ (dɒn) /

noun

a river rising in W Russia, southeast of Tula and flowing generally south, to the Sea of Azov: linked by canal to the River Volga. Length: 1870 km (1162 miles)
a river in NE Scotland, rising in the Cairngorm Mountains and flowing east to the North Sea. Length: 100 km (62 miles)
a river in N central England, rising in S Yorkshire and flowing northeast to the Humber. Length: about 96 km (60 miles)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012