ENGLISH
REFERENCE

chair

n. · v.
US //ˈtʃɛɹ// UK //tʃˈeə// chair
  1. 1 furniture (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, usually with a back and four legs.

    a piece of furniture designed for one person to sit on, typically comprising a seat, a backrest, and four legs.

    Example

    Please pull up a chair and join us for dinner.

    Example

    The designer opted for ergonomic chairs to ensure that employees remained comfortable during long shifts at their desks.
  2. 2 person in charge (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the person who is in charge of a meeting, committee, or organization.

    the presiding officer of a meeting, committee, or board; a gender-neutral alternative to 'chairman' or 'chairwoman'.

    Example

    The chair asked everyone to be quiet so the meeting could begin.

    Example

    As the chair of the finance committee, she was responsible for mediating disputes between the different department heads.

    Usage

    Often used with the definite article 'the' to refer to the role or the person currently holding it.
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 university position (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Formal Education

    a very high-level job for a professor at a university.

    a distinguished professorship at a university, often endowed or specifically named.

    Example

    He was appointed to the chair of Modern History last year.

    Example

    Securing a prestigious chair at a research university is often the pinnacle of an academic career in the sciences.
  2. 4 orchestra position (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Music

    the specific seat or rank a musician has in an orchestra.

    the designated seating position or rank of a particular musician within an orchestral section.

    Example

    She worked hard for years to win the first-chair violin position.

    Example

    The competition for the principal cello chair was fierce, drawing talented musicians from across the country.
  3. 5 the electric chair (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal American English Law

    a way to describe the electric chair used for killing criminals.

    a metonymic reference to the electric chair used for judicial execution.

    Example

    In the old movie, the prisoner was sentenced to the chair.

    Example

    The legal team fought for years to prevent their client from facing the chair, citing new DNA evidence.

  4. 6 to lead a meeting (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to be the person in charge of a meeting or a group.

    to preside over a meeting, committee, or formal discussion. Transitive — takes the meeting or group as a direct object.

    Example

    Who is going to chair the discussion this afternoon?

    Example

    The CEO was invited to chair the international summit on climate change due to her extensive experience in the energy sector.
Origin

From Middle English chayer, chaire, chaiere, chaere, chayre, chayere, from Old French chaiere, chaere, from Latin cathedra (“seat”), from Ancient Greek καθέδρα (kathédra), from κατά (katá, “down”) + ἕδρα (hédra, “seat”). Partially displaced native stool and settle, which now have more specialised senses. Doublet of cathedra and chaise.

Word family
Idioms2 entries

© 2026 English Reference