bench

¹

[bench]

noun

1. a long seat for several people.

   a bench in the park.

2. a seat occupied by an official, especially a judge.

3. such a seat as a symbol of the office and dignity of an individual judge or the judiciary.

4. the office or dignity of various other officials, or the officials themselves.

5. 1. the seat on which the players of a team sit during a game while not playing.

   2. the quality and number of the players of a team who are usually used as substitutes.

      A weak bench hurt their chances for the championship.

   3. the quality and number of professionals or experts in reserve, to be called upon as needed.

      The country has a deep bench of scientists.

6. Informal.,  bench press.

7. Also called workbench. the strong worktable of a carpenter or other mechanic.

8. a platform on which animals are placed for exhibition, especially at a dog show.

9. a contest or exhibition of dogs; dog show.

10. Physical Geography.,  a shelflike area of rock with steep slopes above and below.

11. Mining.,  a step or working elevation in a mine.

12. berm.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with benches.

2. to seat on a bench or on the bench.

   an election that benched him in the district court.

3. to place (a show dog or other animal) in exhibition.

4. to cut away the working faces of (a mine or quarry) in benches.

5. Sports.,  to remove from a game or keep from participating in a game.

   to be benched because of poor hitting.

Bench

²

[bench]

noun

1. Johnny, born 1947, U.S. baseball player.

bench

/ bɛntʃ /

noun

1. a long seat for more than one person, usually lacking a back or arms

2. a plain stout worktable

3. (sometimes capital)

   1. a judge or magistrate sitting in court in a judicial capacity

   2. judges or magistrates collectively

4. sport the seat on which reserve players and officials sit during a game

5. geology a flat narrow platform of land, esp one marking a former shoreline

6. a ledge in a mine or quarry from which work is carried out

7. (in a gymnasium) a low table, which may be inclined, used for various exercises

8. a platform on which dogs or other domestic animals are exhibited at shows

9. a hollow on a hillside formed by sheep

verb

1. to provide with benches

2. to exhibit (a dog, etc) at a show

3. to form (a track) up a hill by excavating a flattened area

4. sport to take or keep (a player) out of a game, often for disciplinary reasons

Other Word Forms

• benchless adjective
• unbench verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bench¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English benc; cognate with Old Frisian benk, Old Saxon, Dutch, Old High German bank, Old Norse bekkr, from unattested Germanic bank-iz; bank ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bench¹

Old English benc ; related to Old Norse bekkr , Old High German bank , Danish, Swedish bänk ; see _bank ³

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the bench,

   1. serving as a judge in a court of law; presiding.

   2. Sports. (of a player) not participating in play, either for part or all of a game.

see on the bench; warm the bench.

Example Sentences

Moody had a distinguished rugby union career - playing an integral role at flanker and coming off the bench to help England win the 2003 World Cup in Australia.

From BBC

In the last week of August, he even benched Hernández for one day.

From Los Angeles Times

But the court’s decisions on those fronts are in keeping with the long-standing views of the conservatives on the bench.

From Los Angeles Times

But George Bower came off the bench to barge over seconds after the final hooter sounded to seal the win for New Zealand and hand them the attacking bonus point.

From BBC

Just sitting on a bench at the top of the stadium to watch high school football and the surrounding view is something unique and invigorating in a state that has many spectacular views.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• board 
• counter 
• desk 
• shelf