Advertisement

View synonyms for

chair

[chair]

noun

  1. a seat, especially for one person, usually having four legs for support and a rest for the back and often having rests for the arms.

  2. something that serves as a chair or supports like a chair.

    The two men clasped hands to make a chair for their injured companion.

  3. a seat of office or authority.

  4. a position of authority, as of a judge, professor, etc.

  5. the person occupying a seat of office, especially the chairperson of a meeting.

    The speaker addressed the chair.

  6. (in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank; desk.

    first clarinet chair.

  7. Informal.the chair, electric chair.

  8. chairlift.

  9. sedan chair.

  10. (in reinforced-concrete construction) a device for maintaining the position of reinforcing rods or strands during the pouring operation.

  11. a glassmaker's bench having extended arms on which a blowpipe is rolled in shaping glass.

  12. British Railroads.a metal block for supporting a rail and securing it to a crosstie or the like.



verb (used with object)

  1. to place or seat in a chair.

  2. to install in office.

  3. to preside over; act as chairperson of.

    to chair a committee.

  4. British.to carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.

verb (used without object)

  1. to preside over a meeting, committee, etc.

chair

/ ʃɛə /

noun

  1. a seat with a back on which one person sits, typically having four legs and often having arms

  2. an official position of authority

    a chair on the board of directors

  3. the person chairing a debate or meeting

    the speaker addressed the chair

  4. a professorship

    the chair of German

  5. railways an iron or steel cradle bolted to a sleeper in which the rail sits and is locked in position

  6. short for sedan chair

  7. chairing a debate or meeting

  8. to preside as chairman for a meeting, etc

  9. an informal name for electric chair

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to preside over (a meeting)

  2. to carry aloft in a sitting position after a triumph or great achievement

  3. to provide with a chair of office

  4. to install in a chair

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Gender Note

Is it chair, chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson? See chairperson.
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • chairless adjective
  • unchair verb (used with object)
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of chair1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chaiere, from Old French, from Latin cathedra; cathedra
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of chair1

C13: from Old French chaiere, from Latin cathedra, from Greek kathedra, from kata- down + hedra seat; compare cathedral
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. take the chair,

    1. to begin or open a meeting.

    2. to preside at a meeting; act as chairperson.

  2. get the chair, to be sentenced to die in the electric chair.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Colin Church, who chaired an independent review into incineration in Scotland, believes the shift to incinerators has been the right choice.

From

Canada chairs the G7 this year and will host leaders of Italy, US, France, Germany, UK and Japan in Kananaskis, Alberta.

From

Lord Browne, who now chairs BeyondNetZero, a fund investing in carbon transition technologies, told Laura Kuenssberg some of the government's plans were "too bullish" and would take more time than planned.

From

An Italian museum has called on patrons to "respect art" after a couple was filmed breaking a chair covered in hundreds of glittering crystals.

From

On Monday, there was what was described as a "table top exercise" chaired by the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, where the nature and steps of the UK's response was discussed.

From

Advertisement

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


chainworkchair bed