noun
(early Christianity) A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
(Christianity, by extension) A modern-day member of a church who handles secular and/or administrative duties in a priest's stead, the specifics of which depends on denomination.
(Catholicism, Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Church of the East) A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.
(Anglicanism) An ordained clergyperson usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.
(Evangelicalism) A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.
(Methodism) A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.
(Freemasonry) A junior lodge officer.
(Mormonism) The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.
(US, animal husbandry) A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below).
(Scotland) The chairman of an incorporated company.
verb
(Christianity, music) For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir.
(US, animal husbandry) To kill a calf shortly after birth.
(US, slang) To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath.
(US, slang) To make sly alterations to the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc.