\Sen"ate\, n. [OE. senat, F. s['e]nat, fr. L. senatus,
fr. senex, gen. senis, old, an old man. See {Senior}, {Sir}.]
1. An assembly or council having the highest deliberative and
   legislative functions. Specifically:
   (a) (Anc. Rom.) A body of elders appointed or elected from
       among the nobles of the nation, and having supreme
       legislative authority.
             The senate was thus the medium through which all
             affairs of the whole government had to pass.
                                               --Dr. W.
                                               Smith.
   (b) The upper and less numerous branch of a legislature in
       various countries, as in France, in the United States,
       in most of the separate States of the United States,
       and in some Swiss cantons.
   (c) In general, a legislative body; a state council; the
       legislative department of government.
2. The governing body of the Universities of Cambridge and
   London. [Eng.]
3. In some American colleges, a council of elected students,
   presided over by the president of the college, to which
   are referred cases of discipline and matters of general
   concern affecting the students. [U. S.]
{Senate chamber}, a room where a senate meets when it
   transacts business.
{Senate house}, a house where a senate meets when it
   transacts business.