chair

SayCHAIR/t͡ʃɛɚ//t͡ʃɛə/

Pluralchairs

Verbchairs, chairing, chaired

14 meanings of chair

Practice

1
seatnouncountable
A seat for one person, usually with four legs and a back to lean against.
Like a small bench made for just one person.
Pull up a chair and join us for dinner.
She painted the old wooden chairs bright red.
UsageSay sit in a chair or sit on a chair.
Similarseat
Note
2
position as headnouncountablewith the
The person in charge of a meeting or committee, or that job.
Like being the captain of a team who runs the meetings.
She was elected to the chair after years of service.
Running the meeting falls to whoever holds the chair.
UsageIn the chair means leading the meeting.
Similarchairperson, head
Note
3
lead a groupverbtransitive
To lead a meeting or group as the person in charge.
Like being the referee who keeps a game running smoothly.
She will chair the meeting while the director is away.
He chaired the committee for three years.
UsageSay chair a meeting, with no preposition.
Similarhead, lead, run, moderate
Note
4
professor postnouncountable
A senior professor's position at a college or university, often a great honor.
Like a special title given to the most respected teachers at a school.
She holds a chair in physics at a leading university.
He was offered a chair after decades of research.
UsageSay a chair in history.
Similarprofessorship
Note
5
nouncountable
The official position of someone in power, like a judge or bishop.
Like the special seat that shows who is in charge.
Matters of doctrine were decided from the bishop's chair.
After years as a priest, he was finally given the bishop's chair.
Similarseat, bench, office

Less common meanings

6
nouncountable
A ski lift with seats that hang from a moving cable, or one seat on it.
We rode the chair to the top of the mountain and skied all the way down.
Hold your ski poles in one hand when the chair comes around behind you at the bottom of the slope.
Similarchairlift
Note
7
execution devicenouncolloquialabbreviationellipsis
Short for electric chair: a chair used to execute a prisoner with electricity, or execution in this way.
The jury's decision meant he could face the chair.
For years that crime could send a person to the chair.
UsageSay the chair: go to the chair.
Note
8
orchestra placenouncountable
A musician's place and rank within a part of an orchestra.
Like a rank on a team that shows who plays the lead part.
She earned the first chair in the violin section.
He moved up to second chair after the audition.
UsageOften used in first chair or the first chair.
Similarposition, seat
Note
9
salon stationnouncountable
A spot or station set aside for one worker in a salon or barbershop.
Like having your own desk at work that is just for you.
She rents a chair at a salon downtown.
The barber has worked the same chair for twenty years.
UsageA stylist rents a chair.
Similarstation
10
carry on shouldersverbtransitive
To lift and carry someone on your shoulders to celebrate a win.
Like lifting a friend onto your shoulders so everyone can cheer them.
The team chaired their captain around the field after the final whistle.
Fans rushed to chair the winning striker across the field.
Note
11
one-person carriagenouncountable
An old one-person ride, either a covered seat carried on poles or a small one-horse cart.
Like a taxi from long ago, but carried by people or pulled by one horse.
The lady arrived by chair, carried through the crowded streets.
Long ago, rich people rode through town in chairs carried by two men.
Similarsedan, gig
Note
12
noun
The most stable folded shape that a six-carbon ring can take, looking a bit like a chair.
13
noun
A heavy iron part that holds a railroad rail in place on the wooden support below.
14
verbUKWales
To give a special seat as a prize to the poet who wins at a Welsh festival.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of chair apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came from Latin "cathedra" meaning "seat", which came from Greek "kathedra", from "kata" (down) plus "hedra" (seat).

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Chair ultimately derives from Latin cathedra. en.wiktionary.org
Latin cathedra means seat. en.wiktionary.org
Latin cathedra derives from Greek kathedra. en.wiktionary.org
Greek kathedra combines kata, meaning down, and hedra, meaning seat. en.wiktionary.org