| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| chair |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  châr |
| NOUN: | 1. A piece of furniture consisting of a seat, legs, back, and often arms, designed to accommodate one person. 2. A seat of office, authority, or dignity, such as that of a bishop. 3a. An office or position of authority, such as a professorship. b. A person who holds an office or a position of authority, such as one who presides over a meeting or administers a department of instruction at a college; a chairperson. 4. The position of a player in an orchestra. 5. Slang The electric chair. 6. A seat carried about on poles; a sedan chair. 7. Any of several devices that serve to support or secure, such as a metal block that supports and holds railroad track in position. | | TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: chaired, chair·ing, chairs
1. To install in a position of authority, especially as a presiding officer. 2. To preside over as chairperson: chair a meeting. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English chaiere, from Old French, from Latin cathedra. See cathedra.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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