chair

¹chair

noun \ˈcher\

Definition of CHAIR

1

a : a seat typically having four legs and a back for one person

b : electric chair —used with the

2

a : an official seat or a seat of authority, state, or dignity

b : an office or position of authority or dignity

c : professorship <holds a university chair>

d : chairman 1

3

: a sedan chair

4

: a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk; specifically : the position of a player in an orchestra or band

5

: any of various devices that hold up or support

Examples of CHAIR

1. a chair by the window
2. We'll need a table and four chairs for the dining room.
3. He is now chair of the English department.
4. She's chair of the school board this year.
5. Address any questions to the committee chair.
6. a murderer who was sentenced to the chair

Origin of CHAIR

Middle English chaiere, from Anglo-French, from Latin cathedra, from Greek kathedra, from kata- cata- + hedra seat — more at sit

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CHAIR

Synonyms

chairman, chairperson, moderator, president, presider, prolocutor, speaker

Related Words

chairwoman; cochair, cochairman, cochairperson, cochairwoman, copresident

Near Antonyms

ranks

Other Furniture and Woodworking Terms

appoint, credenza, mission, settee

Rhymes with CHAIR

air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare

²chair

transitive verb

Definition of CHAIR

1

: to install in office

2

chiefly British : to carry on the shoulders in acclaim <we chaired you through the market place — A. E. Housman>

3

: to preside as chairman of

Examples of CHAIR

1. He's been chosen to chair the task force on school violence.

First Known Use of CHAIR

1552

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

chair

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Seat, usually with four legs and a back, intended for one person. It is one of the most ancient forms of furniture, dating to the 3rd Egyptian dynasty (c. 2650–2575 BC). Various styles were developed throughout Europe. In the 16th century, many chairs began to be covered with upholstery over padding and decorated with elaborate wood carving. U.S. chairs adapted versions of English styles from the late 17th century.