In some university colleges in Britain, the provost is the head.
2. countable noun
In some colleges and universities in the United States, a provost is an official who deals with matters such as the teaching staff and the courses of study.
3. countable noun
A provost is the chief magistrate of a Scottish administrative area.
4. countable noun
In the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, a provost is the person who is in charge of the administration of a cathedral.
provost in British English
(ˈprɒvəst)
noun
1.
an appointed person who superintends or presides
2.
the head of certain university colleges or schools
3.
(in Scotland) the chairperson and civic head of certain district councils or (formerly) of a burgh council
Compare convener (sense 2)
4. Church of England
the senior dignitary of one of the more recent cathedral foundations
5. Roman Catholic Church
a.
the head of a cathedral chapter in England and some other countries
b.
(formerly) the member of a monastic community second in authority under the abbot
6.
(in medieval times) an overseer, steward, or bailiff in a manor
7. obsolete
a prison warder
8. (prəˈvəʊ) British and Canadian military
a military policeman or policewoman
Word origin
Old English profost head of a chapter, reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman French provost, from Medieval Latin prōpositus, synonym of Latin praepositus chief, head
provost in American English
(ˈproʊˌvoʊst; ˈprɑvəst; esp. in military use ˈproʊˌvoʊ)
noun
1.
a superintendent; official in charge
2.
the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh
3. Obsolete
a jailer
4. Ecclesiastical
the head of a cathedral chapter or principal church
5. Education
a.
the head of any of certain colleges in the British Isles
b. US
in certain American universities, an administrative official dealing chiefly with faculty, curriculum, etc.
Derived forms
provostship (ˈprovostˌship)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE profost & OFr provost, both < ML propositus, for L praepositus, chief, prefect, orig. pp. of praeponere, to set before, place first < prae-, before + ponere, to place: see pre- & position