only the rose-colored starlings; in some classifications considered a separate genus
"The rose-colored starling is often classified separately as its own genus, yet it is still referred to by the name pastor."
A shepherd; someone who tends to a flock of animals.
"The village pastor led his sheep across the meadow each morning to find fresh grass."
In plain English: A pastor is a religious leader who takes care of people at their church and helps them with faith questions.
"The pastor welcomed everyone to their first service at the new church."
Usage: In modern English, the noun pastor refers specifically to a Christian clergy member or minister rather than an actual animal herder. Use this term for religious leaders in charge of a church community instead of synonyms like priest or reverend when emphasizing their role within specific denominations such as Baptist or Methodist churches.
To serve a congregation as pastor
"After graduating from seminary, he began to serve a small rural congregation as pastor."
In plain English: To pastor means to take care of and guide a group of people, usually within a church community.
"He will not be able to pastor this small congregation alone because there are so many new families joining each week."
The word entered English via the Norman Conquest as a borrowing from Anglo-Norman pastour, which itself came directly from Late Latin pāstor. Originally meaning "shepherd," it was applied to Christian clergy who tended their flocks of parishioners in much the same way.