Library / English Dictionary

CHAIR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The position of professor

Example:

he was awarded an endowed chair in economics

Synonyms:

chair; professorship

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("chair" is a kind of...):

berth; billet; office; place; position; post; situation; spot (a job in an organization)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A seat for one person, with a support for the back

Example:

he put his coat over the back of the chair and sat down

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("chair" is a kind of...):

seat (furniture that is designed for sitting on)

Meronyms (parts of "chair"):

back; backrest (a support that you can lean against while sitting)

leg (one of the supports for a piece of furniture)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chair"):

wheelchair (a movable chair mounted on large wheels; for invalids or those who cannot walk; frequently propelled by the occupant)

tablet-armed chair (a chair with an arm that has been widened for writing)

swivel chair (a chair that swivels on its base)

side chair; straight chair (a straight-backed chair without arms)

rocker; rocking chair (a chair mounted on rockers)

garden chair; lawn chair (chair left outside for use on a lawn or in a garden)

ladder-back; ladder-back chair (a chair with a ladder-back)

feeding chair; highchair (a chair for feeding a very young child; has four long legs and a footrest and a detachable tray)

folding chair (a chair that can be folded flat for storage)

fighting chair (a fixed chair from which a saltwater angler can fight a hooked fish)

Eames chair (a chair designed by Charles Eames; originally made of molded plywood; seat and back shaped to fit the human body)

chaise; chaise longue; daybed (a long chair; for reclining)

chair of state (a ceremonial chair for an exalted or powerful person)

barber chair (a large fixed adjustable chair in which barbers seat their customers)

armchair (chair with a support on each side for arms)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A particular seat in an orchestra

Example:

he is second chair violin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("chair" is a kind of...):

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

An instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an ordinary seat for one person

Example:

the murderer was sentenced to die in the chair

Synonyms:

chair; death chair; electric chair; hot seat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("chair" is a kind of...):

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

The officer who presides at the meetings of an organization

Example:

address your remarks to the chairperson

Synonyms:

chair; chairman; chairperson; chairwoman; president

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("chair" is a kind of...):

presiding officer (the leader of a group meeting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chair"):

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)

Derivation:

chair (preside over)

chair (act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Preside over

Example:

John moderated the discussion

Synonyms:

chair; lead; moderate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "chair" is one way to...):

discuss; hash out; talk over (speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue chair

Derivation:

chair (the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university

Example:

She chaired the department for many years

Synonyms:

chair; chairman

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "chair" is one way to...):

head; lead (be in charge of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

chair (the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization)

Credits

 Context examples: 

One day, while I was gradually recovering, I was seated in a chair, my eyes half open and my cheeks livid like those in death.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

By the way, I take the chair at a supper of the Fancy at the Waggon and Horses in St. Martin’s Lane next Friday.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Her voice rose into a wild cry, and throwing up her arms she sank back white and nerveless into the deep oaken chair.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Having a head mechanically turned, and being likewise forced by necessity, I had made for myself a table and chair convenient enough, out of the largest trees in the royal park.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

"Let us make a chair with our hands and carry her," said the Scarecrow.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) Sit in a chair for 45 minutes.

(FIQR - Sit in a Chair for 45 Minutes, NCI Thesaurus)

Totally confined to bed or chair.

(ECOG Performance Status 4, NCI Thesaurus)

Capable of only limited selfcare, confined to bed or chair more than 50% of waking hours.

(ECOG Performance Status 3, NCI Thesaurus)

They might also hide in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, and in the folds of curtains.

(Bedbugs, Environmental Protection Agency)

Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Arising: are you able to stand up from a straight chair?

(HAQ-DI - Able to Stand Up From Chair, NCI Thesaurus)