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

The best desk chair has to look and feel good so your office is a tranquil, productive space.

From Popular-Science

For example, Stepanek says that if you were to sit in an office chair with your eyes closed, and someone were to rotate it very smoothly at a constant rate, eventually your vestibular system would be thrown off.

From Popular-Science

However, a throw-size blanket for use on a chair or couch is not designed to be that large anyway, so it’s easier to find budget blankets in that size range.

From Popular-Science

Hawley’s feet were up on a chair as he studiously scanned through stacks of papers, which he later said were trial briefs from both legal teams.

From Washington Post

He was especially impressed by one of them, who was seated in a chair with her hands on the heads of two leopards.

From Popular-Science

While 19 percent of the House is female, just one woman will get to chair one of its 20 committees.

From The Daily Beast

She added: “NBC News is proud to have David in the important anchor chair of ‘Meet the Press.’ ”

From The Daily Beast

Still fearful and smarting from the pain, I arrived on time and was led to chair in his office.

From The Daily Beast

In our screenings, he always sits in the same corner chair and always looks hopeful, no matter what the movie.

From The Daily Beast

For a large fee, you could be pushed down the boardwalk on a rolling wicker chair by a black worker.

From The Daily Beast

It ended on a complaint that she was 'tired rather and spending my time at full length on a deck-chair in the garden.'

From Project Gutenberg

With a suffocating gasp, she fell back into the chair on which she sat, and covered her face with her hands.

From Project Gutenberg

The president sat in a chair which came over with the pilgrims in their ship, the Mayflower.

From Project Gutenberg

She was holding the back of her chair with one hand; her loose sleeve had slipped almost to the shoulder of her uplifted arm.

From Project Gutenberg

He noticed at the same time several burnt matches between his cushions and her chair.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• armchair
• bench
• recliner