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chief
Chief is defined as the leader of a group.
(noun)An example of a chief is the head of a fire department.
The definition of chief is the highest in authority or the most important.
(adjective)An example of chief used as an adjective is in the phrase the "chief issue" which means the most significant issue.
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See chief in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- the head or leader of a group, organization, etc.; person of highest title or authority
- Archaic the most valuable or main part of anything
- Heraldry the upper third of a shield
- Naut. a chief engineer or chief petty officer
Origin: ME chef, chief, leader < OFr < VL *capum < L caput, head
adjective
- highest, as in rank or office; foremost: the chief magistrate
- most important or significant; main; principal: the chief advantages
adverb
Archaic chiefly
Related Forms:
- chiefdom noun
See chief in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- One who is highest in rank or authority; a leader.
- a. A chief petty officer.b. Nautical The chief engineer of a ship.
- Slang A boss.
- Heraldry The upper section of a shield.
- The most important or valuable part.
- Highest in rank, authority, or office.
- Most important or influential. See Usage Note at absolute.
Archaic
Chiefly.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English chef
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin caput, head; see kaput- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- chiefˈdom noun
- chiefˈshipˌ noun
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