chair

[ chair ]

/ tʃɛər /

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See synonyms for: chair / chaired / chairing / chairs on Thesaurus.com

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.

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Idioms about chair

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

take the chair,

to begin or open a meeting.
to preside at a meeting; act as chairperson.

Origin of chair

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

usage note for chair

5. See chairperson.

OTHER WORDS FROM chair

chairless, adjectiveun·chair, verb (used with object)

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH chair

chair , chairman, chairperson, chairwoman

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chair in a sentence

Haaland is also the vice chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the chair of the subcommittee on national parks, forests, and public lands, and sits on the subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
The case for a Native American secretary of the interior|Rachel Ramirez|November 20, 2020|Vox
His father flew out of his chair and swatted away the straw — and my string of apologies.
Eighty years of memories that will stir readers’ own|Connie Schultz|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Rather than say anything, I simply scooted my chair back a few more feet.
Miss Manners: Polite alternatives to ‘Pull your mask up, bozo!’|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Jennifer Redmond, the deputy chair of elections for Wayne County, choked up as she addressed the board.
For three hours, an obscure county board in Michigan was at the center of U.S. politics|Kayla Ruble, Tom Hamburger, David Fahrenthold|November 19, 2020|Washington Post

Pull that out and leave it on a chair, just in case someone wants to wriggle in for a full-body snuggle.
Your Guide to Throwing an Outdoor Thanksgiving|AC Shilton|November 17, 2020|Outside Online
He co-chaired Doctors for Obama, and once tweeted that guns are a health issue.
How Presidents Handle Pandemics|Eleanor Clift|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its board of directors is chaired by billionaire industrialist and conservative political donor Charles G. Koch.
The Sleazy War on the Humane Society|Center for Public Integrity|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This isn't the first scandal for Conyers, who chaired the House Judiciary Committee from 2006-2010.
After 49 Years In Congress, John Conyers May Not Make The Ballot|Ben Jacobs|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He co-chaired the advocacy group Doctors for Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Meet Obama’s Controversial Surgeon General Nominee|Soumitra R. Eachempati, MD|February 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was sponsored by something called the American Fact-Finding Committee, chaired by ring-wing organizer Bernard Weissman.
Dallas Lays Elaborate but Dignified Plans to Celebrate Assassination Anniversary|Helen Anders|November 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I would have thee to understand, sirrah, that thou art fitter for the house they have chaired thee unto than for mine.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXVIII. February, 1843. Vol. LIII.|Various
There was a famous contest for Hampton when I was not more than twelve years old: we went to see the members chaired.
The Vicissitudes of Bessie Fairfax|Harriet Parr
I would have thee to understand, sirrah, that thou art fitter for the House they have chaired thee unto than for mine.
Imaginary Conversations and Poems|Walter Savage Landor
George Lamb was to have been chaired on the day he was elected, but the mob was outrageous and would not suffer it.
The Greville Memoirs|Charles C. F. Greville
The day the member was chaired, several men in Coningsby's rooms were talking over their triumph.
Coningsby|Benjamin Disraeli

British Dictionary definitions for chair

chair

/ (tʃɛə) /

noun

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

an official position of authoritya chair on the board of directors

the person chairing a debate or meetingthe speaker addressed the chair

a professorshipthe 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 (tr)

to preside over (a meeting)

British 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

Word Origin for chair

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with chair

chair

see musical chairs.

chair

Idioms about chair

Origin of chair

usage note for chair

OTHER WORDS FROM chair

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH chair

Words related to chair

How to use chair in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chair

Word Origin for chair

Other Idioms and Phrases with chair