chair

American  

[chair] / tʃɛər /

noun

1. 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.

2. something that serves as a chair or supports like a chair.

   The two men clasped hands to make a chair for their injured companion.

3. a seat of office or authority.

4. a position of authority, as of a judge, professor, etc.

5. the person occupying a seat of office, especially the chairperson of a meeting.

   The speaker addressed the chair.

6. (in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank; desk.

   first clarinet chair.

7. Informal. the chair, electric chair.

8. chairlift.

9. sedan chair.

10. (in reinforced-concrete construction) a device for maintaining the position of reinforcing rods or strands during the pouring operation.

11. a glassmaker's bench having extended arms on which a blowpipe is rolled in shaping glass.

12. British Railroads. a metal block for supporting a rail and securing it to a crosstie or the like.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to place or seat in a chair.

2. to install in office.

3. to preside over; act as chairperson of.

   to chair a committee.

4. British. to carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.

verb (used without object)

1. to preside over a meeting, committee, etc.

idioms

1. take the chair,

   1. to begin or open a meeting.

   2. to preside at a meeting; act as chairperson.

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

chair British  

/ tʃɛə /

noun

1. a seat with a back on which one person sits, typically having four legs and often having arms

2. an official position of authority

   a chair on the board of directors

3. the person chairing a debate or meeting

   the speaker addressed the chair

4. a professorship

   the chair of German

5. railways an iron or steel cradle bolted to a sleeper in which the rail sits and is locked in position

6. short for sedan chair

7. chairing a debate or meeting

8. to preside as chairman for a meeting, etc

9. an informal name for electric chair

---

verb

1. to preside over (a meeting)

2. to carry aloft in a sitting position after a triumph or great achievement

3. to provide with a chair of office

4. to install in a chair

chair More Idioms  

1. see musical chairs.

---

Gender

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

Other Word Forms

• chairless adjective
• unchair verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of chair

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

Example Sentences

Wall Street widely expects several interest rate cuts next year and a new Federal Reserve chair who is amenable to keep rates low.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a nation of noisy confrontationalists—the skillful soft touch replaced by the swing of a folding chair—reason is routinely drowned out by the loudest voices in the room.

From The Wall Street Journal

The announcement of the next Fed chair in January may well foster a more dovish policy stance, according to UBS.

From MarketWatch

When he finished up his interview with columnist Glenn Whipp, he came to meet me in the neighboring hotel room where I had a chair positioned next to a window.

From Los Angeles Times

He would come up to her desk and talk for so long that she’d pull up a chair for him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• armchair
• bench
• recliner