seat

[ seet ]

noun

1. something designed to support a person in a sitting position, as a chair, bench, or pew; a place on or in which one sits.

   Synonyms: stool, throne

2. the part of a chair, sofa, or the like, on which one sits.
3. the part of the body on which one sits; the buttocks.

   Synonyms: fundament, bottom

4. the part of the garment covering it:

   the seat of one's pants.

5. a manner of or posture used in sitting, as on a horse.
6. something on which the base of an object rests.
7. the base itself.
8. a place in which something belongs, occurs, or is established; site; location.
9. a place in which administrative power or the like is centered:

   the seat of the government.

10. a part of the body considered as the place in which an emotion or function is centered:

    The heart is the seat of passion.

11. the office or authority of a king, bishop, etc.:

    the episcopal seat.

12. a space in which a spectator or patron may sit; accommodation for sitting, as in a theater or stadium.
13. right of admittance to such a space, especially as indicated by a ticket.
14. a right to sit as a member in a legislative or similar body:

    to hold a seat in the senate.

15. a right to the privileges of membership in a stock exchange or the like.

verb (used with object)

1. to place on a seat or seats; cause to sit down.
2. to usher to a seat or find a seat for:

   to be seated in the front row.

3. to have seats for; accommodate with seats:

   a theater that seats 1200 people.

4. to put a seat on or into (a chair, garment, etc.).
5. to install in a position or office of authority, in a legislative body, etc.
6. to fit (a valve) with a seat.
7. to attach to or place firmly in or on something as a base:

   Seat the telescope on the tripod.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a cap, valve, etc.) to be closed or in proper position:

   Be sure that the cap of the dipstick seats.

seat

/ siːt /

noun

1. a piece of furniture designed for sitting on, such as a chair or sofa
2. the part of a chair, bench, etc, on which one sits
3. a place to sit, esp one that requires a ticket

   I have two seats for the film tonight

4. the buttocks
5. the part of a garment covering the buttocks
6. the part or area serving as the base of an object
7. the part or surface on which the base of an object rests
8. the place or centre in which something is located

   a seat of government

9. a place of abode, esp a country mansion that is or was originally the chief residence of a family
10. a membership or the right to membership in a legislative or similar body
11. a parliamentary constituency
12. membership in a stock exchange
13. the manner in which a rider sits on a horse
14. by the seat of one's pants
    by instinct rather than knowledge or experience
15. on seat informal.
    (of officials) in the office rather than on tour or on leave

    the agricultural advisor will be on seat tomorrow

verb

1. tr to bring to or place on a seat; cause to sit down
2. tr to provide with seats
3. tr; often passive to place or centre

   the ministry is seated in the capital

4. tr to set firmly in place
5. tr to fix or install in a position of power
6. tr to put a seat on or in (an item of furniture, garment, etc)
7. intr (of garments) to sag in the area covering the buttocks

   your thin skirt has seated badly

Derived Forms

• ˈseatless, adjective

Other Words From

• seater noun
• seatless adjective
• mis·seat verb (used with object)
• under·seated adjective
• well-seated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of seat¹

1150–1200; Middle English sete (noun) < Old Norse sæti

Word History and Origins

Origin of seat¹

Old English gesete; related to Old Norse sæti, Old High German gasāzi, Middle Dutch gesaete

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by the seat of one's pants, using experience, instinct, or guesswork.

More idioms and phrases containing seat

In addition to the idiom beginning with seat , also see backseat driver ; catbird seat ; hot seat ; in the driver's seat ; ringside seat ; take a back seat .

Example Sentences

If Biden wins the election, the Democratic Party will almost certainly gain seats in the US Senate.

From Vox

Right now, people think like, “All right, I go past this place and all these seats are outside and people are hanging out.”

From Ozy

We use each seat’s predicted probabilities to run simulations of the 2018 congressional elections.

From Ozy

By that point, Perry had reclaimed his seat on the board of Energy Transfer and acquired its stock.

From ProPublica

For the past three years, the share of new board seats filled by nonwhite candidates has remained stalled at 23%.

From Fortune

They want to change bad behaviors—tobacco, alcohol, using a seat belt, anything.

From The Daily Beast

On the Democratic side, many expect former Rep. Mike McMahon to make another run at the seat.

From The Daily Beast

Interestingly, if Grimm is expelled, he is not legally prohibited from running in the special election for his seat.

From The Daily Beast

This means every Senate seat will be Republican, and 80 percent of the House seats will be, too.

From The Daily Beast

There, he allegedly pulled her into the back seat of his black Pontiac.

From The Daily Beast

Aristide replaced the baby, and with a complicated arrangement of string fastened it securely to the seat.

From Project Gutenberg

Pierre Van Cortlandt, a distinguished revolutionary patriot, died at his seat at Croton river, aged 94.

From Project Gutenberg

Aristide clambered back to his seat, took the child on his knees, and commiserated it profoundly.

From Project Gutenberg

He deposited it on the vacant seat, clambered up behind the wheel, and started.

From Project Gutenberg

De Castellor was now in his seat; and when Castanos came off; the Duke was stunned into stupor, overcome by the illimitable ruin.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• center
• house
• place
• post
• site
• spot