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Chair
A chair is a piece of furniture with a raised surface supported by legs, commonly used to seat a single person. Chairs are supported most often by four legs and have a back; however, a chair can have three legs or can have a different shape. Chairs are made of a wide variety of materials, ranging from wood to metal to synthetic material (e.g. plastic), and they may be padded or upholstered in various colors and fabrics, either just on the seat (as with some dining room chairs) or on the entire chair. Chairs are used in a number of rooms in homes (e.g. in living rooms, dining rooms, and dens), in schools and offices (with desks), and in various other workplaces.
A chair without a back or arm rests is a stool, or when raised up, a bar stool. A chair with arms is an armchair; one with upholstery, reclining action, and a fold-out footrest is a recliner. A permanently fixed chair in a train or theater is a seat or, in an airplane, airline seat; when riding, it is a saddle or bicycle saddle; and for an automobile, a car seat or infant car seat. With wheels it is a wheelchair; or when hung from above, a swing. An upholstered, padded chair for two people is a ‘loveseat’, while if it is for more than two person it is a couch, sofa, or settee; or if is not upholstered, a bench. A separate footrest for a chair, usually upholstered, is known as an ottoman, hassock, or pouffe.
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Chair (noun)
An item of furniture used to sit on or in comprising a seat, legs, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person. Compare stool, couch, sofa, settee, loveseat and bench.
“All I need to weather a snowstorm is hot coffee, a warm fire, a good book and a comfortable chair.”
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Chair (noun)
The seating position of a particular musician in an orchestra.
“My violin teacher used to play first chair with the Boston Pops.”
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Chair (noun)
An iron block used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers, and similar devices.
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Chair (noun)
One of two possible conformers of cyclohexane rings (the other being boat), shaped roughly like a chair.
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Chair (noun)
A distinguished professorship at a university.
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Chair (noun)
A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or a two-wheeled carriage drawn by one horse; a gig.
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Chair (verb)
to act as chairperson at; to preside over
“Bob will chair tomorrow’s meeting.”
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Chair (verb)
to carry in a seated position upon one’s shoulders, especially in celebration or victory
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Chair (verb)
to award a chair to (a winning poet) at a Welsh eisteddfod
“The poet was chaired at the national Eisteddfod.”
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Bench (noun)
A long seat with or without a back, found for example in parks and schools.
“They sat on a park bench and tossed bread crumbs to the ducks and pigeons.”
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Bench (noun)
The people who decide on the verdict; the judiciary.
“They are awaiting a decision on the motion from the bench.”
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Bench (noun)
The place where the judges sit.
“She sat on the bench for 30 years before she retired.”
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Bench (noun)
The dignity of holding an official seat.
“the bench of bishops; the civic bench”
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Bench (noun)
The place where players (substitutes) and coaches sit when not playing.
“He spent the first three games on the bench, watching.”
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Bench (noun)
The number of players on a team able to participate, expressed in terms of length.
“Injuries have shortened the bench.”
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Bench (noun)
A place where assembly or hand work is performed; a workbench.
“She placed the workpiece on the bench, inspected it closely, and opened the cover.”
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Bench (noun)
A horizontal padded surface, usually with a weight rack, used for support during exercise.
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Bench (noun)
A bracket used to mount land surveying equipment onto a stone or a wall.
“After removing the bench, we can use the mark left on the wall as a reference point.”
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Bench (noun)
A flat ledge in the slope of an earthwork, work of masonry, or similar.
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Bench (noun)
A thin strip of relatively flat land bounded by steeper slopes above and below.
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Bench (noun)
A kitchen surface on which to prepare food, a counter.
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Bench (noun)
A bathroom surface which holds the washbasin, a vanity.
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Bench (noun)
A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public, traditionally on benches or raised platforms.
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Bench (noun)
The weight one is able to bench press, especially the maximum weight capable of being pressed.
“He became frustrated when his bench increased by only 10 pounds despite a month of training.”
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Bench (verb)
To remove a player from play.
“They benched him for the rest of the game because they thought he was injured.”
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Bench (verb)
To remove someone from a position of responsibility temporarily.
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Bench (verb)
To push a person backward against a conspirator behind them who is on their hands and knees, causing them to fall over.
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Bench (verb)
To furnish with benches.
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Bench (verb)
To place on a bench or seat of honour.
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Bench (verb)
To lift by bench pressing
“I heard he can bench 150 pounds.”
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Bench (verb)
alternative spelling of bentsh
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Bench (noun)
a long seat for several people, typically made of wood or stone
“a park bench”
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Bench (noun)
a long work table in a workshop or laboratory
“a 19th-century wheelwright’s bench”
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Bench (noun)
a judge’s seat in a law court.
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Bench (noun)
the office of judge or magistrate
“his appointment to the civil bench”
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Bench (noun)
a judge or magistrate presiding over a particular case.
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Bench (noun)
a long seat in Parliament for politicians of a specified party
“the Conservative benches”
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Bench (noun)
the politicians occupying a specified bench in Parliament
“the pledge that was given by the Opposition benches yesterday”
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Bench (noun)
a seat at the side of a sports field for coaches, substitutes, and players not taking part in a game
“he must settle for a place on the substitute’s bench”
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Bench (noun)
a flat ledge in masonry or on sloping ground.
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Bench (verb)
exhibit (a dog) at a show
“Affenpinschers and Afghans were benched side by side”
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Bench (verb)
withdraw (a sports player) from play
“the coach benched quarterback Cunningham in favour of McMahon”
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Bench (verb)
short for bench press (verb)
“he benched almost 500 pounds”