What does "seat" mean?

1. (something to sit on) a chair, stool, or any place where you can sit. 2. (part of a garment) the part of your trousers or skirt that covers your bottom. 3. (a centre or location) the place where a government, court, or organization is based. 4. (membership in a group) an official position as a member of a group, like a parliament or a committee. 5. (to provide sitting space) to have enough space for a certain number of people to sit. 6. (to show someone to a place) to help someone find their place to sit. 7. (to fix in place) to fit something firmly into a specific position.

seat — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01something to sit on

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a chair, stool, or any place where you can sit.

n. a piece of furniture or a specific place designed for sitting.

“Is this seat taken, or can I sit here to eat my lunch?”

“The stadium was upgraded to include more comfortable seats and better access for spectators with disabilities.”

Synonyms

chair bench stool

02part of a garment

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. the part of your trousers or skirt that covers your bottom.

n. the part of a garment that covers the buttocks.

“He realized there was a small hole in the seat of his jeans.”

“The tailor reinforced the seat of the trousers to ensure they would withstand the rigours of daily wear.”

03a centre or location

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal

n. the place where a government, court, or organization is based.

n. the place where a government, authority, or institution is located or has its headquarters.

“Strasbourg is the seat of the European Parliament.”

“The city has served as the seat of government for over three centuries, surviving numerous political upheavals.”

Synonyms

centre headquarters base

04membership in a group

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law

n. an official position as a member of a group, like a parliament or a committee.

n. membership or a position in a legislative or corporate body.

“She won a seat on the local council in the last election.”

“The party is fighting to retain its seat in the upcoming by-election despite falling poll numbers.”

Synonyms

position membership

05to provide sitting space

B1 · Intermediate

v. to have enough space for a certain number of people to sit.

v. to provide sitting accommodation for a specific number of people.

“The new restaurant can seat up to fifty people at once.”

“The auditorium was designed to seat three thousand guests, featuring acoustics that carry sound perfectly to the back row.”

Synonyms

accommodate hold

06to show someone to a place

B1 · Intermediate

v. to help someone find their place to sit.

v. to direct or escort someone to a specific sitting place.

“The host will seat you as soon as your table is ready.”

“The ushers began to seat the guests twenty minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to commence.”

Synonyms

place guide

07to fix in place

C1 · Advanced Engineering Technical

v. to fit something firmly into a specific position.

v. to fit or settle something firmly into a correct or desired position.

“Make sure the battery is properly seated before you close the cover.”

“The technician ensured the valve was correctly seated to prevent any pressure leakage during the high-intensity test phase of the test.”

Synonyms

fix lodge install

Antonyms

loosen remove

From Middle English sete, from Old English sǣte, possibly from (or simply cognate with) Old Norse sæti (“seat”), both from Proto-Germanic sētiją (“seat”), from Proto-Indo-European sed- (“to sit”); compare Old English set (“seat”). Noun sense 2 (“location or site”) is probably derived from Old English sǣte (“house”), which is related to Old High German sāza (“sedan, seat, domicile”). Cognates * Middle Dutch gesaete * Old High German gisazi (modern German Gesäß)

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VERB

NOUN

seat(A2)

ADJECTIVE

fidget squirming wriggle