CHAIR Definition & Meaning

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chair

[ chair ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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.
something that serves as a chair or supports like a chair:
The two men clasped hands to make a chair for their injured companion.
a seat of office or authority.
a position of authority, as of a judge, professor, etc.
the person occupying a seat of office, especially the chairperson of a meeting:
The speaker addressed the chair.
(in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank; desk:
first clarinet chair.
the chair, Informal. electric chair.
chairlift.
sedan chair.
(in reinforced-concrete construction) a device for maintaining the position of reinforcing rods or strands during the pouring operation.
a glassmaker's bench having extended arms on which a blowpipe is rolled in shaping glass.
British Railroads. a metal block for supporting a rail and securing it to a crosstie or the like.

verb (used with object)

to place or seat in a chair.
to install in office.
to preside over; act as chairperson of:
to chair a committee.
British. to carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.

verb (used without object)

to preside over a meeting, committee, etc.

chair

/ ��ʃɛə /

noun

a seat with a back on which one person sits, typically having four legs and often having arms
an official position of authority
a chair on the board of directors
the person chairing a debate or meeting
the speaker addressed the chair
a professorship
the chair of German
railways an iron or steel cradle bolted to a sleeper in which the rail sits and is locked in position
short for sedan chair
in the chair
chairing a debate or meeting
take the chair
to preside as chairman for a meeting, etc
the chair
an informal name for electric chair

verb

to preside over (a meeting)
to carry aloft in a sitting position after a triumph or great achievement
to provide with a chair of office
to install in a chair

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Gender Note

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

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��󲹾��·�� adjective
�ܲ�·��󲹾�� verb (used with object)

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of chair¹

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of chair¹

C13: from Old French chaiere, from Latin cathedra, from Greek kathedra, from kata- down + hedra seat; compare cathedral

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Idioms and Phrases

get the chair, to be sentenced to die in the electric chair.
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 .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A broken plastic chair testifies to the fight they have had.

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Wearing shades but no shirt, he proceeds to pretend to throw a chair at Kilmer's head, before jumping out of the trailer into the sunshine and dancing off.

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Toward the end of their scene together, Kilmer's Iceman gets up from his chair and coarsely tells Cruise: "The Navy needs Maverick".

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He also announced the formation of a World Cup taskforce, external which he will chair to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.

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Sir John Saunders, who chaired the lengthy public inquiry into what happened at Manchester Arena, told me the 22 lives could have been saved if Martyn's Law had been in place before that night.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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