Definition of 'author'

Word Frequency

author

(ɔːθəʳ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense, plural authors , present participle authoring, past tense, past participle authored

1. countable noun

The author of a piece of writing is the person who wrote it.

She is the joint author of a booklet on Integrated Education. [+ of]

2. countable noun

An author is a person whose job is writing books.

...Philip Pullman, the best-selling author of children's fiction.

3. countable noun

The author of a plan or proposal is the person who thinks of it and works out the details.

The authors of the plan believe they can reach this point within about two years. [+ of]

4. verb

To author something means to be the author of it.

Then he opened a restaurant, authored a book, and landed his own radio show. [VERB noun]

...a proposal authored by subcommittee chairman Quentin Burdick. [VERB-ed]

5. See also co-author

More Synonyms of author

Video: pronunciation of 'author'

Word Frequency

author in British

(ˈɔːθə )

noun

a person who composes a book, article, or other written work

▶ Related adjective: auctorial

a person who writes books as a profession; writer

the writings of such a person

reviewing a postwar author

an originator or creator

the author of this plan

verb (transitive)

to write or originate

Derived forms

authorial (ɔːˈθɔːrɪəl )

adjective

Word origin of 'author'

C14: from Old French autor, from Latin auctor author, from augēre to increase

Word Frequency

author in American

(ˈɔθər ; ôˈt hər)

noun

a person who makes or originates something; creator; originator

“author of liberty”

a writer of a book, article, etc.; often specif., a person whose profession is writing books

verb transitive

to be the author of

Derived forms

authorial (auˈthorial) (ɔˈθɔriəl ; ôt hôrˈēəl)

adjective

Word origin of 'author'

ME autour < OFr autor < L auctor, enlarger, author < augere, to increase: see wax1

Example sentences containing 'author'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

She had once wondered how someone could spend an entire term just teaching about one author. Lowry, Lois ANASTASIA KRUPNIK (3-IN-1) (2002)Edward was immediately spoken of as if he were himself an established author, even a literary authority. Alan Judd THE DEVIL'S OWN WORK (2002)He's a highly regarded member of the faculty, fully tenured, the author of a definitive textbook. Tapply, William G A RODENT OF DOUBT (2002)

Spurning her suitors, superior without being arrogant, she clearly is the object of her author 's admiration. Howker, Janni ISAAC CAMPION (2002)