chair Hear it!

chair Definition

chair (c̸her)

noun

  1. a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, having a back and, usually, four legs
  2. a seat of authority or dignity
  3. the position of a player in an instrumental section of a symphony orchestra
  4. an important or official position, as a professorship or chairmanship
  5. a person who presides over a meeting; chairman address your remarks to the chair
  6. sedan chair
  7. ☆ electric chair

Etymology: ME & OFr chaire < L cathedra: see cathedra

transitive verb

  1. to place in a chair; seat
  2. to place in authority
  3. to preside over as chairman
  4. Brit. to carry (a person) aloft in public triumph on, or as though on, a chair

chair Idioms

take the chair

to preside as chairman

chair Synonyms

chair

n.

  1. A single seat

    seat, stool, bench, armchair, place, room, space, throne, cathedra; see also bench 1, couch, furniture, seat 1.

    Types of chairs include: stool, taboret, throne, faldstool, footstool, rocker, recliner, ottoman, wing chair, armchair, easy chair, wheel chair, highchair, roundabout; curule, bath, occasional, dining-room, desk, office, kitchen, lounge, beach, deck, lawn, period, portable, sedan, reclining, rocking, captain's, swivel, folding, bentwood, cane-seated, split-bottom; Duncan Phyfe, Hepplewhite, Breuer, Cromwell, Windsor, Morris, Queen Anne, X-legged Barcelona, Eames, S-squared Tugend hat, S-curved Brno.

  2. A position of authority

    seat, chairmanship, directorship, headship, throne, bench, position, endowed chair, professorship, tutorage, instructorship, readership, professorate, fellowship, tutorship; see also authority 3.

  3. A person who presides

    chairman, chairwoman, chairperson, president, director, head, presiding officer, presider, administrator, toastmaster, speaker, moderator, prolocutor, monitor, leader, principal, captain, master of ceremonies, MC, emcee*; see also administrator.

  4. A death sentence; usually used with the

    execution, electric chair, electrocution, death chair, hot seat*, hot squat*, a burning*, Sing Sing siesta*; see also execution 2.

take the chair

chair, preside, act as chair, moderate; see manage 1.

chair Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • recline: You will then be able to sit in a reclining chair in the sitting room.
  • appoint: Nigel Burton, Chairman Nigel was appointed chair on 1 April 2004.
  • elect: RESOLVED THAT Peter Wright be elected Chair of Holborn District Management Committee for the 2006 2007 municipal year.
  • upholster: There were large, upholstered chairs on the stage, arranged in rows.

Adjective modifier

  • comfy: Comfy Chair: Very important if you want to be comfortable all day.
  • beach-themed: There's a breezy cabana, beach-themed butterfly chair and personal watercraft with a removable doll-sized life vest.
  • deputy: Kearns did this in his then capacity as deputy chair of Social Services!
  • comfortable: Keep the room warm and choose a comfortable bed to sleep in or a comfortable chair to sit in before you retire.
  • folding: Steel folding picnic chairs cost £ 7. Standard delivery is £ 5, and items normally arrive within two working days.
  • wooden: Am I really sitting in this little wooden chair?

Modifies a noun

lift: To the right a heap of bricks remained where once stood the chair lift station.

Noun used with modifier

  • vise: Vise chair of House of Commons Human Rights Committee.
  • wheel: Many elderly & disabled folk need to cross here, often in electric wheel chairs.
  • wicker: She would sit in a wicker chair that had a shoulder high back and secured her in a bolt upright position.
  • deck: The Palm lined Pedestrian Boulevard leads to the sizeable Swimming Pool and adjacent Terrace of deck chair and sun beds.
  • leather: Randy's also foaming at the mouth over this leather chair for $ 40.
  • butterfly: There's a breezy cabana, beach-themed butterfly chair and personal watercraft with a removable doll-sized life vest.

Possessives

dentist: Two good things happened within the dentist's chair.

Preposition: of

  • governor: In this case, the chair of governors should conduct the assessment.
  • committee: Members of the public may ask questions to Members of the Cabinet and Chairs of Committees.