1an official appointed to govern a town or region. •the elected executive head of a state of the US.
•the representative of the British Crown in a colony or in a Commonwealth state that regards the monarch as head of state.
2the head of a public institution:
the governor of the Bank of England•a member of a governing body.
3British informal the person in authority; one’s employer. 4a device automatically regulating the supply of fuel, steam, or water to a machine, ensuring uniform motion or limiting speed.