1. En France, le premier officier municipal d'une commune, élu par les conseillers municipaux ŕ l'issue des élections municipales.
2. Autrefois, sorte de conseiller du roi qui en fait, sous les Mérovingiens, exerçait le pouvoir : maire du palais.
ETYM Old Eng. maire, French maire, from Latin major greater, higher, nobler, compar. of magnus great; cf. Spanish mayor. Related to Major, Merino.r />
The head of a city government; SYN. city manager.
Title of head of local administration for a town or city. Powers vary widely, although generally mayors oversee financial issues, local education, public safety, planning and zoning, taxation, and other aspects of municipal government.