noun A member, normally elected, in the house or chamber of a legislature called a senate, as, for instance, the legislatures of the United States and Canada.
noun A member of any legislative body or parliament, particularly the British Parliament.
noun A member of the ancient Roman Senate.
noun A member of a governing council in other states in the ancient world.
noun A member of the ruler’s council or governing council in general, a leading statesman.
noun An important church official.
noun In Germany, a minister of the executive branch of government in the city states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg; and a government official of cities that were part of the Hanseatic League.