professor

[ pruh-fes-er ]

/ prəˈfɛs ər /

SEE MORE 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.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

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

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

Related forms

pro·fes·so·ri·al

[proh-fuh-sawr-ee-uh l, -sohr-, prof-uh-] /ˌproʊ fəˈsɔr i əl, -ˈsoʊr-, ˌprɒf ə-/, adjectivepro·fes·so·ri·al·ism, nounpro·fes·so·ri·al·ly, adverbnon·pro·fes·so·ri·al, adjective

non·pro·fes·so·ri·al·ly, adverbpseu·do·pro·fes·so·ri·al, adjectivesub·pro·fes·sor, nounun·pro·fes·so·ri·al, adjectiveun·pro·fes·so·ri·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for professorial

Carroll, 56, has a professorial look about him, with a salt and pepper Ken Burns-style haircut, a beard and rimless glasses.
This Civil War Reenactor Controls Christie’s Fate|Olivia Nuzzi|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When he speaks he is casual and spontaneous, as if talking to an old friend, but can also at times still have a professorial tone.
Why Billy Collins Is America’s Most Popular Poet|Austen Rosenfeld|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Paul was professorial, with his history and geopolitical lessons on Islam.
Ted’s Excellent Adventure: How Cruz Rocked the Value Voters Summit|Michelle Cottle|October 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He was professorial, elliptical, vague, abstract; Romney appeared plausible, concerned, compassionate, and energetic.
Why Obama Lost|David Frum|October 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST

When Obama dispenses with that dread sobriquet “professorial,” he does it by being, well, more professorial.
Obama Frees His Mojo|Tina Brown|September 10, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The boldness of his original essays provided them with food for comment in a manner dear to the professorial heart.
Sir James Young Simpson and Chloroform (1811-1870)|Henry Laing Gordon
In 1838, Doctor Holmes accepted his first professorial position, and became professor of anatomy and physiology at Dartmouth.
The Arena|Various
Then one would have professorial government, and Upsala would be—no, not the professors!
The Growth of a Soul|August Strindberg
"Col," I heard the professorial people—from Oberlin—speak the name.
The Spell of Scotland|Keith Clark
The same king endowed three professorial chairs with ₱ 10,000 each.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

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 collegeSee 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

professorial (ˌprɒfɪˈsɔːrɪəl), adjectiveprofessorially, 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

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