Dictionary

professor en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /pɹəˈfɛs.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (London) audio
• (Texas) audio
• (California) audio
• audio Connecticut
• audio Colorado
• /pɹəˈfes.ə/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /pɹəˈfɛs.ɚ/ (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English professor, professour, from Anglo-Norman proffessur and its etymon Latin professor (“declarer, person who claims knowledge”), from the past participle stem of profiteor (“profess”). By surface analysis, profess + -or.

Meanings

1. The most senior rank for an academic at a university or similar institution.
   • Professor is what you become after teaching for twenty to thirty years. 2014 November 22, Michel Clasquin-Johnson, “What is the difference between a research professor and a professor”, in Quora:
2. (Philippines, US, informal) A teacher or faculty member at a college or university regardless of formal rank.
3. (archaic) One who professes something, such as a religious doctrine.
   • As for Religion, I have not said, much lesse meant irreverently of it, or of the Professors thereof. 1660, William Petty, Reflections upon some Persons and Things in Ireland, page 170, column 1:
   • 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; 1897, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers (transl.) The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, Introduction, p. v
   • […] I alvvayes thought / It vvas both impious and vnnaturall, / That ſuch immanity and bloody ſtrife / Should reigne among Profeſſors of one Faith. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 114, column 2:
4. (obsolete) A practitioner, one who (publicly) practises or teaches an art or skill.
   • Two young men of familiar acquaintance … were one euening at a common Inne of this town (as I haue heard) where the one of them shewed his skill on the Virginals, to the no little contentement of the hearers. Nowe as diuers guests of the house came into the room to listen, so among the rest entered an artificiall Conny-catcher, who as occasion serued, in the time of ceissing betweene the seueral toyes and fancies hee plaid: very much commended his cunning, quicke hand, and such qualities praiseworthy in such a professour. 1592, Robert Green, The Thirde & Last Part of Conny-catching, Bodleian Library (Malone 575), London: John Lane. Reprinted in 1923, Harrison, G. B. (ed.), The Bodley Head Quartos III, Plainstow, Great Britain: Curwen Press, p. 29
5. (US, slang) A pianist in a saloon, brothel, etc.
   • You could hear […] pianos under the hands of whorehouse professors sounding like they came with keys between the keys. 2006, Thomas Pynchon, “(please specify the page)”, in Against the Day, New York, N.Y.: Penguin Press, →ISBN:
6. The puppeteer who performs a Punch and Judy show; a Punchman.

Forms

Deriveds

assistant professor · professor ordinarius · Sterling professor · regents' professor · professoring · university professor · adjunct professor · professoriate · research professor · professorly · regents professor · Professor's Cube · professorless · professorlike · professorling · institute professor · little professor · president's professor · visiting professor · extraordinary professor · nonprofessor · associate professor · professoress · professorship · James B. Duke professor · full professor · brofessor · distinguished professor · absent-minded professor · professorine · mad professor · subprofessor · professorish · professordom · professoriat · professorate

Relateds

professorial · regius professor · Regius Professor · Regius professor · profestrix

Synonyms

prof · Prof.

Translations (162)

mi ahorangi (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sk profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · so barfasoor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · hu kinevezett tanár (teacher or faculty member at a college or university, regardless of formal rank) · to palōfesa (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · uk профе́сор (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sh profesòrica (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · es profesora (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ur پرادھیاپک (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · lt profesorius (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · es maestro catedrático, endowed chair (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Hochschulprofessorin (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · lv profesors (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · cmn 老師 /老师 (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · bg изповядващ (one who professes (a faith or religion)) · arz دكتورة (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nds-de Professer (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sv lärarinna (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ru профе́ссор (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · oc professora (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · yi פּראָפֿעסאָרקע (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · pl profesorka (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sah бэрэпиэссэр (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · tl propesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Prof. (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · vec profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · scn prufissuri (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · tl dalubguro (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ia professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ko 교수 (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · el καθηγητής (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · jv guru ageng (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · la professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Professorin (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ca professora (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ug پروفېسسور (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nl hoogleraar (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · pt professora (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ast profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nl professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · fr professeur (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · vi giáo sư (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sv föreläsare (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · es maestra catedrática, endowed chair (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · lo ສາດສະດາຈານ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · km លោកគ្រូ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sh професо̀рица (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · am ፕሮፌሰር (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ru профе́ссорша (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · fi professori (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · cmn 教授 (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sv lektor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · es profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · da professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ar أُسْتَاذ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · la profestrīx (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · cy proffeswr (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · hu oktató (teacher or faculty member at a college or university, regardless of formal rank) · tr hoca (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · jv profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · gl profesora (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ro profesoară (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sl profesorica (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Hochschullehrer (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · gd àrd-ollamh (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · yi פּראָפֿעסאָר (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · su profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ga ollamh (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · he פְּרוֹפֶסוֹר (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · af dosent (teacher or faculty member at a college or university, regardless of formal rank) · eu irakasle (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · hi प्राध्यापक (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · oc professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ko 선생 (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · bg преподавател (teacher or faculty member at a college or university, regardless of formal rank) · nds-de Professoorsch (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · br kelenner (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · tg олим (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sh pròfesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · fa استاد (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · hi प्रोफ़ेसर (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ro profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · fa پروفسور (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · el καθηγήτρια (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · br kelennerez (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ja 教授 (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Hochschullehrerin (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · az professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · eo profesoro (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · my ပါမောက္ခ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ms mahaguru (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · eo profesorino (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Hochschulprofessor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Professorsgattin (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sh про̀фесор (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ur پروفیسر (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · hu előadó (teacher or faculty member at a college or university, regardless of formal rank) · sv professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · cs profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nds-de Professoorsche (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · es maestro catedrático endowed chair (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · haw polopeka (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · vo jiprofäsoran (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sm polofesa (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · it professore (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sv adjunkt (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ca professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · arz بروفيسور (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nl prof (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · he פרופ׳ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · hu professzor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · gl profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ast profesora (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nds-de Professorin (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · mr प्रोफेसर (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · fr professeure (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ay yatichiri (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sl profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · is háskólakennari (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · hy պրոֆեսոր (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sv professorska (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · fr professeuse (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · cic pofessa' (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · arz دكتور (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · lo ອາຈານ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Bekennerin (one who professes (a faith or religion)) · sw profesa (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nds-de Professersch (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · mi toihuarewa (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · vo profäsoran (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ar مُعَلِّم (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · af professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nds-de Professersche (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · pt professor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · fj parofesa (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · es maestra catedrática, endowed chair (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · pl profesor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · fr prof (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · nds-de Professerin (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ps پوهاند (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · yi פּראָפֿעסאָרין (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · be прафе́сар (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · sv lärare (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · tr profesör (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Bekenner (one who professes (a faith or religion)) · th ศาสตราจารย์ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · bg профе́сор (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · mk професор (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ja 先生 (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · is prófessor (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · ka პროფესორი (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · mt professur (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · yi פּראָפֿ׳ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · tl Dgro. (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · mk професорка (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · km សាស្ត្រចារ្យ (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · he פְּרוֹפֶסוֹרִית (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · vo hiprofäsoran (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · to palofesa (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · de Prof (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university) · arz بروفيسورة (higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university)