(in the Anglican Church 圣公会 a priest of high rank who is in charge of the other priests in a cathedral 座堂主任牧师 - (also rural dean)(British English)
a priest who is in charge of the priests of several churches in an area （乡间主管若干教堂牧师的）主任牧师 a person in a university who is in charge of a department of studies （大学的）学院院长，系主任 the dean of the Faculty of Medicine 医学院院长 He was appointed dean of the faculty of theology at London University. 他被任命为伦敦大学神学院的院长。
(in a college or university, especially at Oxford or Cambridge) a person who is responsible for the discipline of students （大学，尤指牛津、剑桥大学的）学监 - (North American English) (also doyen British and North American English)
the most respected or most experienced member of a group or profession （某团体或职业中的）老前辈，资格最老者，元老
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French deien, from late Latin decanus ‘chief of a group of ten’, from decem ‘ten’. Compare with doyen.