chief
[ cheef ]
/ tʃif /
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noun
adjective
highest in rank or authority: the chief priest; the chief administrator.
most important; principal: his chief merit; the chief difficulty.
adverb
Archaic. chiefly; principally.
OTHER WORDS FOR chief
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Idioms about chief
- in the chief position; highest in rank (used in combination): editor in chief; commander in chief.
- Heraldry. in the upper part of an escutcheon.
in chief,
Origin of chief
1250–1300; Middle English <Anglo-French chief, chef,Old French chef<Vulgar Latin *capum, re-formation of Latin caputhead
synonym study for chief
7. See capital1.
OTHER WORDS FROM chief
chiefless, adjectivechiefship, nounsubchief, nounun·der·chief, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH chief
chef, chiefDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use chief in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for chief
chief
/ (tʃiːf) /
noun
the head, leader, or most important individual in a group or body of people
another word for chieftain (def. 2)
heraldry the upper third of a shield
in chief primarily; especially
adjective
(prenominal)
- most important; principal
- highest in rank or authority
adverb
archaic principally
Word Origin for chief
C13: from Old French, from Latin caput head
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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