1. [n]  an educator who works at a college or university
2. [adj]  hypothetical or theoretical and not expected to produce an immediate or practical result; "an academic discussion"; "an academic question"
3. [adj]  marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
4. [adj]  associated with academia or an academy; "the academic curriculum"; "academic gowns"

ACADEMIC is a 8 letter word that starts with A.

1. \Ac`a*dem"ic\, Academical \Ac`a*dem"ic*al\, a. [L.
   academicus: cf. F. acad['e]migue. See {Academy}.]
   1. Belonging to the school or philosophy of Plato; as, the
      Academic sect or philosophy.
   2. Belonging to an academy or other higher institution of
      learning; scholarly; literary or classical, in distinction
      from scientific. ``Academic courses.'' --Warburton.
      ``Academical study.'' --Berkeley.
   

2. \Ac`a*dem"ic\, n.
   1. One holding the philosophy of Socrates and Plato; a
      Platonist. --Hume.
   2. A member of an academy, college, or university; an
      academician.