chair
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chair
(châr)n.
1. A piece of furniture designed to accommodate one sitting or reclining person, providing support for the back and often the arms and typically standing on four legs.
2. A seat of office, authority, or dignity, such as that of a bishop.
3.
a. An office or position of authority, such as a professorship.
b. A person who holds an office or a position of authority, such as one who presides over a meeting or administers a department of instruction at a college; a chairperson.
4. The position of a player in an orchestra.
5. Slang The electric chair.
6. A seat carried about on poles; a sedan chair.
7. Any of several devices that serve to support or secure, such as a metal block that supports and holds railroad track in position.
tr.v. chaired, chair·ing, chairs
1. To preside over as chairperson: chair a meeting.
2. To install (someone) in a position of authority, especially as a presiding officer.
3. To carry (someone) high off the ground in a chair or in a seated position, especially as a tribute.
[Middle English chaiere, from Old French, from Latin cathedra; see cathedra.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
chair
(tʃɛə)n
1. (Furniture) 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. (Education) a professorship: the chair of German.
5. (Railways) railways an iron or steel cradle bolted to a sleeper in which the rail sits and is locked in position
6. (Automotive Engineering) short for sedan chair
7. in the chair chairing a debate or meeting
8. take the chair to preside as chairman for a meeting, etc
9. the chair an informal name for electric chair
vb (tr)
10. to preside over (a meeting)
11. Brit to carry aloft in a sitting position after a triumph or great achievement
12. to provide with a chair of office
13. to install in a chair
[C13: from Old French chaiere, from Latin cathedra, from Greek kathedra, from kata- down + hedra seat; compare cathedral]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
chair
(tʃɛər)n.
1. a seat, esp. for one person having four legs for support, a rest for the back, and often rests for the arms.
2. a seat of office or authority.
3. a position of authority, as of a judge or professor.
4. the person occupying a seat of office or authority, esp. the chairperson of a meeting.
5. (in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank.
6. the chair, Informal. electric chair.
7. chairlift.
8. sedan chair.
v.t. 9. to place or seat in a chair.
10. to install in office.
11. to preside over; act as chairperson of.
12. Brit. to carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.
v.i. 13. to preside over a meeting, committee, etc.
[1250–1300; Middle English chaiere < Old French < Latin cathedra; see cathedra]
usage: See -person.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
chair
– armchair1. 'chair'
A chair is a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, with a support for the person's back. When a chair is a very simple one, you say that someone sits on it.
Anne was sitting on an upright chair.
Sit on this chair, please.
When a chair is a comfortable one, you usually say that someone sits in it.
He leaned back in his chair and looked out of the window.
2. 'armchair'
An armchair is a comfortable chair with a support on each side for your arms. You always say that someone sits in an armchair.
He was sitting quietly in his armchair, smoking a pipe and reading the paper.
chair
– chairperson – chairman – chairwoman1. 'chair' and 'chairperson'
The person in charge of a meeting or organization is referred to as the chair, or sometimes the chairperson. These words can be used to refer to either a man or a woman.
This is Ruth Michaels, chairperson of the Women Returners' Network.
You should address your remarks to the chair.
2. 'chairman'
A chairman is a man who is in charge of a meeting or debate.
The vicar, full of apologies, took his seat as chairman.
The male head of an organization is often referred to as its chairman.
Sir John Hill, chairman of the Atomic Energy Authority, gave the opening speech.
3. 'chairwoman'
In the past, chairman was used to refer to both men and women, but it is now not often used to refer to a woman. The woman in charge of a meeting or organization is sometimes referred to as the chairwoman.
Margaret Downes is this year's chairwoman of the Irish Institute.
Siobhan is a BBC radio journalist, and chairwoman of The Scottish Ballet.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
chair
Past participle: chaired
Gerund: chairing
| Imperative |
|---|
| chair |
| chair |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
chair
A post as a professor of a particular subject at a college or university.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  chair - a seat for one person, with a support for the back; "he put his coat over the back of the chair and sat down"armchair - chair with a support on each side for arms backrest, back - a support that you can lean against while sitting; "the back of the dental chair was adjustable" barber chair - a large fixed adjustable chair in which barbers seat their customers chair of state - a ceremonial chair for an exalted or powerful person Eames chair - a chair designed by Charles Eames; originally made of molded plywood; seat and back shaped to fit the human body fighting chair - a fixed chair from which a saltwater angler can fight a hooked fish folding chair - a chair that can be folded flat for storage feeding chair, highchair - a chair for feeding a very young child; has four long legs and a footrest and a detachable tray ladder-back, ladder-back chair - a chair with a ladder-back garden chair, lawn chair - chair left outside for use on a lawn or in a garden leg - one of the supports for a piece of furniture rocking chair, rocker - a chair mounted on rockers seat - furniture that is designed for sitting on; "there were not enough seats for all the guests" side chair, straight chair - a straight-backed chair without arms swivel chair - a chair that swivels on its base tablet-armed chair - a chair with an arm that has been widened for writing wheelchair - a movable chair mounted on large wheels; for invalids or those who cannot walk; frequently propelled by the occupant |
| 2. | chair - the position of professor; "he was awarded an endowed chair in economics" | |
| 3. |  chair - the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization; "address your remarks to the chairperson"Kalon Tripa - the chairman of the Kashag and essentially head of the Tibetan government-in-exile presiding officer - the leader of a group meeting vice chairman - one ranking below or serving in the place of a chairman | |
| 4. |  chair - an instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an ordinary seat for one person; "the murderer was sentenced to die in the chair"instrument of execution - an instrument designed and used to take the life of a condemned person | |
| 5. | chair - a particular seat in an orchestra; "he is second chair violin" seat - any support where you can sit (especially the part of a chair or bench etc. on which you sit); "he dusted off the seat before sitting down" | |
| Verb | 1. | chair - act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university; "She chaired the department for many years" |
| 2. | chair - preside over; "John moderated the discussion" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
chair
Types of chair
armchair, banquette, barrel chair, bar stool, basket chair, Bath chair, beanbag, bench, bentwood chair, berbice chair, bergère, bucket seat, campaign chair, camp chair, cane chair, carver, cathedra, corner chair, curule chair, deck chair, dining chair, director's chair, dos-à-dos, easy chair, fauteuil, fiddle-back, folding chair, form, garden chair, gestatorial chair, hassock, highchair, jampan (kneeling chair), ladder-back chair, lounger, milking stool, Morris chair, music stool (office chair), opsitbank (S. Afr.), ottoman, pew, piano stool, platform rocker, pouf or pouffe, reclining chair or recliner, rocking chair or rocker, sedan chair, settle, shooting stick, stool, straight chair, súgán chair, swing, swivel chair, throne, tub chair, wheelchair, window seat, Windsor chair, Windsor rocker, wing chairCollins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
رِئاسَةُ الجَلْسَهكرسيكُرْسيكُرْسي الأسْتاذِيَّه في الجامِعَهكُرْسِيّ
židlepředsedatpředsednictvístolice
stolformandmødelederprofessorat
seĝo
tuolipuheenjohtaja
कुरसी
stolica
szék
fundarstjóriprófessorsembættistjórna fundistóll
椅子
의자
kėdėkeltuvaspirmininkaspirmininkautipirmininkavimas
katedrakrēslspriekšsēdētājsvadīt sapulci
scaunscaune
stolpredsedovati
stolordförande
เก้าอี้
کرسی
ghế
chair
[tʃɛəʳ]A. N
1. (gen) → silla f; (= armchair) → sillón m, butaca f; (= wheelchair) → silla f (de ruedas); (= seat) → lugar m, asiento m
please take a chair → siéntese or tome asiento por favor
please take a chair → siéntese or tome asiento por favor
2. (Univ) → cátedra f
3. [of meeting] → presidencia f; (= chairman) → presidente m
to be in the chair; take the chair → presidir
to address the chair → dirigirse al presidente
to be in the chair; take the chair → presidir
to address the chair → dirigirse al presidente
4. the chair (US) (= electric chair) → la silla eléctrica
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
chair
[ˈtʃɛər] n
(= armchair) → fauteuil m
(= professorship) → chaire f
(= chairperson) → président(e) m/f
(at meeting) to be in the chair, to take the chair → présider
(US) (also electric chair) the chair → la chaise électrique
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
chair
n
(= seat) → Stuhl m; (= armchair) → Sessel m; (= sedan chair) → Sänfte f; please take a chair → bitte nehmen Sie Platz!
(in committees etc) → Vorsitz m; to be in/take the chair → den Vorsitz führen; to address the chair → sich an den Vorsitzenden/die Vorsitzende wenden; all questions through the chair, please → bitte alle Fragen (direkt) an den Vorsitzenden richten!
(= electric chair) → (elektrischer) Stuhl
chair
:chairborne
adj to be chair (inf) → einen Schreibtischjob haben
chairlift
n → Sessellift m
chairman
chairperson
n → Vorsitzende(r) mf
chair umpire
n (Tennis) → Stuhlschiedsrichter(in) m(f)
chairwoman
n → Vorsitzende f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
chair
[tʃɛəʳ]1. n → sedia, seggiola; (armchair) → poltrona; (seat) → posto (a sedere) (Univ) → cattedra (Am) (electric chair) the chair → la sedia elettrica
dentist's chair → poltrona del dentista
to take the chair (at meeting) → assumere la presidenza
dentist's chair → poltrona del dentista
to take the chair (at meeting) → assumere la presidenza
2. vt (meeting) → presiedere
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
chair
(tʃeə) noun1. a movable seat for one person, with a back to it. a table and four chairs.
2. the position of a person who is chairman at a meeting etc. Who is in the chair?
3. the office of a university professor. He holds the chair of History at this university.
verb to be chairman at (a meeting etc). He chaired the meeting last night.
ˈchairlift noun a set of seats hanging from a cable, used to take skiers etc up a mountain.
ˈchairman, chairperson, chairwoman nouns a person who takes charge of or directs a meeting.
ˈchairmanship noun Address a male chairman as Mr Chairman, and a female chairman as Madam Chairman.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
chair
→ كُرْسِيّ židle stol Stuhl καρέκλα silla tuoli chaise stolica sedia 椅子 의자 stoel stol krzesło cadeira стул stol เก้าอี้ sandalye ghế 椅子Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
chair
n. silla.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
chair
n silla, sillón m; dental — sillón dental; reclining — silla reclinableEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.