chair

/tʃɛər/

/tʃɛə/

Other forms: chairs; chaired; chairing

A chair is a seat with four legs and a back to lean against. When you invite a large group for dinner, you have to make sure you find chairs for all of your guests.

As opposed to a bench, couch, or sofa, a chair usually seats one single person. You might have wooden kitchen chairs and a comfortable, upholstered chair with arms for watching TV. Another kind of chair is the leader of an organization or group, and it's also a verb meaning to lead such a group: "I've been asked to chair the monthly meetings of the stamp collectors' club." The Old French root is chaiere, "seat or throne."

Definitions of chair

1. noun

   a seat for one person, with a support for the back
   “he put his coat over the back of the chair and sat down”

   types:

   armchair

   chair with a support on each side for arms

   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

   chaise, chaise longue, chaise lounge, daybed

   a long chair; for reclining

   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   a chair designed by Charles Eames; originally made of molded plywood; seat and back shaped to fit the human body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

   rocker, rocking chair

   a chair mounted on rockers

   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

   bath chair

   a wheelchair usually pushed by an attendant, as at a spa

   Boston rocker

   a rocking chair that has a high spindle back and a decorative top panel

   camp chair

   a light folding chair

   captain's chair

   a wooden armchair with a saddle seat and a low back that has vertical spindles

   beach chair, deck chair

   a folding chair for use outdoors; a wooden frame supports a length of canvas

   easy chair, lounge chair, overstuffed chair

   a comfortable upholstered armchair

   fauteuil

   an upholstered armchair

   Morris chair

   an armchair with an adjustable back

   motorized wheelchair

   a wheelchair propelled by a motor

   platform rocker

   rocking chair on a stationary base

   lounger, recliner, reclining chair

   an armchair whose back can be lowered and foot can be raised to allow the sitter to recline in it

   shoofly

   a child's rocking chair with the seat built between two flat sides that are shaped to resemble an animal (such as a swan or duck)

   throne

   the chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.

   Windsor chair

   straight chair having a shaped seat and a back of many spindles

   yacht chair

   a light folding armchair for outdoor use

   type of:

   seat

   furniture that is designed for sitting on
2. noun

   the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization
   synonyms: chairman, chairperson, chairwoman, president

   types:

   Kalon Tripa

   the chairman of the Kashag and essentially head of the Tibetan government-in-exile

   vice chairman

   one ranking below or serving in the place of a chairman

   type of:

   presiding officer

   the leader of a group meeting
3. verb

   act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university
   “She chaired the department for many years”

   synonyms: chairman

   type of:

   head, lead

   be in charge of
4. verb

   preside over
   synonyms: lead, moderate

   type of:

   discuss, hash out, talk over

   speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion
5. noun

   the position of professor
   “he was awarded an endowed chair in economics”

   synonyms: professorship

   type of:

   berth, billet, office, place, position, post, situation, spot

   a job in an organization
6. noun

   a particular seat in an orchestra
   “he is second chair violin”

   type of:

   seat

   any support where you can sit (especially the part of a chair or bench etc. on which you sit)
7. noun

   an instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an ordinary seat for one person
   “the murderer was sentenced to die in the chair”

   synonyms: death chair, electric chair, hot seat

   type of:

   instrument of execution

   an instrument designed and used to take the life of a condemned person