1. (a.) Of or pertaining to an empire, or to an emperor; as, an imperial government; imperial authority or edict.

2. (a.) Belonging to, or suitable to, supreme authority, or one who wields it; royal; sovereign; supreme.

3. (a.) of superior or unusual size or excellence; as, imperial paper; imperial tea, etc.

4. (n.) The tuft of hair on a man's lower lip and chin; -- so called from the style of beard of Napoleon III.

5. (n.) An outside seat on a diligence.

6. (n.) A luggage case on the top of a coach.

7. (n.) Anything of unusual size or excellence, as a large decanter, a kind of large photograph, a large sheet of drawing, printing, or writing paper, etc.

8. (n.) A gold coin of Russia worth ten rubles, or about eight dollars.

9. (n.) A kind of fine cloth brought into England from Greece. or other Eastern countries, in the Middle Ages.