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. the chair, Informal. 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

/ tʃɛə /

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. in the chair
   chairing a debate or meeting
8. take the chair
   to preside as chairman for a meeting, etc
9. the chair
   an informal name for electric chair

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

Gender Note

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

Other Words From

• chair·less adjective
• un·chair verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of chair¹

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

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get the chair, to be sentenced to die in the electric chair.
2. take the chair,
   1. to begin or open a meeting.
   2. to preside at a meeting; act as chairperson.

More idioms and phrases containing chair

see musical chairs .

Example Sentences

Ask me if you want to touch my chair.’

From Los Angeles Times

Madison Miner, the Orange County chair of Moms for Liberty, a conservative organization that opposes curricula about LGBTQ+ rights, race and ethnicity, called McMahon a “wonderful choice.”

From Los Angeles Times

Edward Chang, MD, the chair of Neurological Surgery at UCSF, said these insights could revolutionize care for people with epilepsy.

From Science Daily

Annie Hudson, the panel's chair, said the new legislation would "go some way towards tackling some of the systemic weaknesses that can create the conditions where very vulnerable children are abused and neglected".

From BBC

The primary upset was viewed as a political earthquake at the time as Crowley was then the fourth highest-ranking congressional Democrat, serving as the chair of the Democratic Caucus.

From Salon

Related Words

• armchair
• bench
• recliner