tribune

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈtrɪbjuːn/ UK /ˈtrɪbjuːn/ See IPA manual

Freq #17968

Meanings

1

noun
in ancient Rome, an elected official charged with protecting the interests and rights of the plebeians

A tribune could veto measures that threatened the Roman plebs.
2

noun
in ancient Rome, a military officer ranking below a legate and above a centurion

The military tribune relayed the commander's orders to the legion.
3

noun
an elevated platform, gallery, or dais for speakers, officials, or spectators

The presiding officer addressed the assembly from the tribune.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · in ancient rome, an elected... tribune of the plebsRoman magistrate

2 noun · in ancient rome, a military... military tribuneRoman officer

3 noun · an elevated platform,... platform dais gallery

Word family

Forms tribunes

Derived forms tribuneshiptribunary

Related forms tribunatetribuniciantribe plebeian

Etymology

From Middle English tribune, Old French tribun, and Latin tribunus ('tribal head, tribune'), from tribus ('tribe'). The architectural sense came through French and Italian for a raised stand or gallery.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# tribune

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtrɪbjuːn/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtrɪbjuːn/
**Frequency rank:** 17968

## Meanings
1. in ancient Rome, an elected official charged with protecting the interests and rights of the plebeians
2. in ancient Rome, a military officer ranking below a legate and above a centurion
3. an elevated platform, gallery, or dais for speakers, officials, or spectators

## Examples
- A tribune could veto measures that threatened the Roman plebs.
- The military tribune relayed the commander's orders to the legion.
- The presiding officer addressed the assembly from the tribune.

## Synonyms
- Roman magistrate
- Roman officer
- platform
- dais

## Derived Forms
- tribuneship
- tribunary

## Related Forms
- tribunate
- tribunician
- tribe
- plebeian

## Etymology
From Middle English tribune, Old French tribun, and Latin tribunus ('tribal head, tribune'), from tribus ('tribe'). The architectural sense came through French and Italian for a raised stand or gallery.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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