prefecture

== English == === Alternative forms === præfecture (archaic) === Etymology === Borrowed from Middle French préfecture, from Latin praefectūra. Equivalent to prefect +‎ -ure. As an East Asian administrative division, a calque of Chinese 府 (fǔ) and 郡 (jùn), also used to describe 縣 / 县 (xian, “county”) and 州 (zhou, “province”) in some eras. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈpɹiːfɛkt͡ʃə/, /ˈpɹiːfɛktjʊə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpɹiˌfɛkt͡ʃəɹ/ IPA(key): (obsolete) /ˈpɹɛfɛkt͡ʃəɹ/ === Noun === prefecture (plural prefectures) The office or position of a prefect. The jurisdiction of a prefect; the region administered by a prefect, especially as a translation of certain French, Chinese, and Japanese administrative divisions. ==== Synonyms ==== (Chinese administrative division): jun, fu; chun, foo (obsolete); commandery (some contexts) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== prefect ==== Translations ==== === References ===