mon·i·tor (m?n??-t?r)n.1. One that admonishes, cautions, or reminds, especially with respect to matters of conduct.2. A pupil who assists a teacher in routine duties.3. a. A usually electronic device used to record, regulate, or control a process or system.b. A video display or speaker used in a production studio to check audio or video quality: The sound engineer detected a hiss on the monitor.c. Computers A device that accepts video signals from a computer and displays information on a screen; a video display.4. Computers A program that observes, supervises, or controls the activities of other programs.5. An articulated device holding a rotating nozzle with which a jet of water is regulated, used in mining and firefighting.6. a. A heavily ironclad warship of the 19th century with a low, flat deck and one or more gun turrets.b. A modern warship designed for coastal bombardment.7. See monitor lizard.v. mon·i·tored, mon·i·tor·ing, mon·i·tors v.tr.1. To check the quality or content of (an electronic audio or visual signal) by means of a receiver.2. To check by means of an electronic receiver for significant content, such as military, political, or illegal activity: monitor a suspected criminal’s phone conversations.3. To keep track of systematically with a view to collecting information: monitor the bear population of a national park; monitored the political views of the people.4. To test or sample, especially on a regular or ongoing basis: monitored the city’s drinking water for impurities.5. To keep close watch over; supervise: monitor an examination.6. To direct.v.intr. To act as a monitor.[Latin, from mon?re, to warn; see men- in Indo-European roots.]mon?i·tor·ship? n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.monitor (?m?n?t?) n1. a person or piece of equipment that warns, checks, controls, or keeps a continuous record of something2. (Education) education a. a senior pupil with various supervisory dutiesb. a pupil assisting a teacher in classroom organization, etc3. (Electronics) a television screen used to display certain kinds of information in a television studio, airport, etc4. (Computer Science) the unit in a desk computer that contains the screen5. (Electronics) a. a loudspeaker used in a recording studio control room to determine quality or balanceb. a loudspeaker used on stage to enable musicians to hear themselves6. (Mechanical Engineering) a device for controlling the direction of a water jet in fire fighting7. (Animals) any large predatory lizard of the genus Varanus and family Varanidae, inhabiting warm regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia. See also Komodo dragon8. (Mining & Quarrying) mining Also called: giant a nozzle for directing a high-pressure jet of water at the material to be excavated9. (Military) (formerly) a small heavily armoured shallow-draught warship used for coastal assaultvb (tr) 10. to act as a monitor of11. (Mechanical Engineering) to observe or record (the activity or performance) of (an engine or other device)12. (Broadcasting) to check (the technical quality of) (a radio or television broadcast)[C16: from Latin, from mon?re to advise] monitorial adj ?moni?torially adv ?monitor?ship n ?monitress fem nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014mon?i?tor (?m?n ? t?r) n. 1. a student appointed to assist in the conduct of a class or school, as to help keep order. 2. a person who admonishes, esp. with reference to conduct. 3. something that serves to remind or give warning. 4. a device or arrangement for observing, detecting, or recording the operation of a machine or system, esp. an automatic control system. 5. an instrument for detecting dangerous gases, radiation, etc. 6. Radio and Television. a receiving apparatus used in a control room or studio for monitoring transmissions. 7. a component with a display screen for viewing computer data, television programs, etc. 8. a. a former U.S. steam-propelled, armored warship of very low freeboard. b. (cap., italics) the first of such warships, used by Union forces against the Merrimack in 1862. 9. a raised construction straddling the ridge of a roof and having windows or louvers for lighting or ventilating a building. 10. any lizard of the family Varanidae, of Africa, S Asia, the East Indies, and Australia, fabled to give warning of the presence of crocodiles. v.t. 11. Radio and Television. to listen to (transmitted signals) on a receiving set in order to check the quality of the transmission. 12. to observe, record, or detect (an operation or condition) with instruments that have no effect upon the operation or condition. 13. to oversee, supervise, or regulate. 14. to watch closely for purposes of control, surveillance, etc.; keep track of. v.i. 15. to serve as a monitor, detector, supervisor, etc. [1540?50;