bench

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the reserve players on a team

   our team has a strong bench

2. 2
   verb

   to exhibit on a bench or table

   The poodles at the dog show were benched for the judges to see.

3. 3
   verb

   to take out of a game

   I was benched in the ninth inning.

4. 4
   noun

   A long seat with or without a back, found for example in parks and schools.

   They sat on a park bench and tossed bread crumbs to the ducks and pigeons.

5. 5
   noun

   The seat where the judges sit in court.

   They are awaiting a decision on the motion from the bench.

6. 6
   noun

   A seat where people sit together in an official capacity.

   the government front bench

7. 7
   noun

   The place where players (substitutes) and coaches sit when not playing.

   He spent the first three games on the bench, watching.

8. 8
   noun

   A place where assembly or hand work is performed; a workbench.

   She placed the workpiece on the bench, inspected it closely, and opened the cover.

Etymology

From Middle English bench, benk, bynk, from Old English benċ (“bench”), from Proto-West Germanic *banki, from Proto-Germanic *bankiz (“bench”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-. Cognate with Scots benk, bink (“bench”), West Frisian bank (“bench”), Dutch bank (“bench”), German Bank (“bench”), Danish bænk (“bench”), Swedish bänk (“bench”), Icelandic bekkur (“bench”). Doublet of banc, banco, and bank.