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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024chair /tʃɛr/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
- Furniturea seat, esp. for one person, usually having four legs for support and a rest for the back:I pulled my chair up to the table.
- a position of authority, such as of a judge;
a seat of office or authority:a chair in the department of business.
- the person occupying such a seat of office, esp. one with the authority to run a meeting:Address your remarks to the chair, please.
- Informal Termsthe chair, [usually singular] Informal. electric chair:sentenced the prisoner to the chair.
v. [~ + object]
- to direct the running of (a meeting, etc.);
act as chairperson of:She chaired the meeting on the sales campaign.
Idioms
- Idioms take (or be in) the chair, to open or preside at a meeting;
act as chairperson.
In many cases the word chair has become the simplest term to use for both chairman and chairperson. Many speakers do not wish to offend women by using the word chairman, while others feel it is unnatural to use chairperson. The result is that chair has become the preferred word for the meaning "person who occupies a seat or position of authority, or who directs the running of a meeting, department, etc.''
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024chair
(châr),USA pronunciation n.
- Furniturea seat, esp. for one person, usually having four legs for support and a rest for the back and often having rests for the arms.
- something that serves as a chair or supports like a chair:The two men clasped hands to make a chair for their injured companion.
- a seat of office or authority.
- a position of authority, as of a judge, professor, etc.
- the person occupying a seat of office, esp. the chairperson of a meeting:The speaker addressed the chair.
- Music and Dance(in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank;
desk:first clarinet chair.
- Informal Terms the chair, See electric chair.
- chairlift.
- See sedan chair.
- (in reinforced-concrete construction) a device for maintaining the position of reinforcing rods or strands during the pouring operation.
- Ceramicsa glassmaker's bench having extended arms on which a blowpipe is rolled in shaping glass.
- Rail Transporta metal block for supporting a rail and securing it to a crosstie or the like.
- Idioms get the chair, to be sentenced to die in the electric chair.
- Idioms take the chair:
- to begin or open a meeting.
- to preside at a meeting;
act as chairperson.
v.t.
- to place or seat in a chair.
- to install in office.
- to preside over;
act as chairperson of:to chair a committee.
- British Termsto carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.
v.i.
- to preside over a meeting, committee, etc.
- Latin cathedra; see cathedra
- Old French
- Middle English chaiere 1250–1300
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
chair /tʃɛə/ n - a seat with a back on which one person sits, typically having four legs and often having arms
- an official position of authority
- the person chairing a debate or meeting: the speaker addressed the chair
- a professorship
- an iron or steel cradle bolted to a sleeper in which the rail sits and is locked in position
- short for sedan chair
- take the chair ⇒ to preside as chairman for a meeting, etc
- the chair ⇒
an informal name for electric chair
vb (transitive)- to preside over (a meeting)
- Brit to carry aloft in a sitting position after a triumph or great achievement
- to provide with a chair of office
- to install in a chair
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French chaiere, from Latin cathedra, from Greek kathedra, from kata- down + hedra seat; compare cathedral
'chair' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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