chair: Meaning and Definition of

chair

Pronunciation: (châr), [key]
— n.
  1. a seat, esp. for one person, usually having four legs for support and a rest for the back and often having rests for the arms.
  2. something that serves as a chair or supports like a chair: The two men clasped hands to make a chair for their injured companion.
  3. a seat of office or authority.
  4. a position of authority, as of a judge, professor, etc.
  5. the person occupying a seat of office, esp. the chairperson of a meeting: The speaker addressed the chair.
  6. (in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank; desk: first clarinet chair.
  7. See
  8. chairlift.
  9. See
  10. (in reinforced-concrete construction) a device for maintaining the position of reinforcing rods or strands during the pouring operation.
  11. a glassmaker's bench having extended arms on which a blowpipe is rolled in shaping glass.
  12. a metal block for supporting a rail and securing it to a crosstie or the like.
  13. to be sentenced to die in the electric chair.
    1. to begin or open a meeting.
    2. to preside at a meeting; act as chairperson.
—v.t.
  1. to place or seat in a chair.
  2. to install in office.
  3. to preside over; act as chairperson of: to chair a committee.
  4. to carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.
—v.i.
  1. to preside over a meeting, committee, etc.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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