chair

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the position of professor

   I was awarded an endowed chair in economics.

2. 2
   noun

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

   They put their coat over the back of the chair and sat down.

3. 3
   noun

   a particular seat in an orchestra

   They are second chair violin.

4. 4
   noun

   the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization

   address your remarks to the chairperson

5. 5
   verb

   to preside over

   I volunteered to chair the committee.

6. 6
   verb

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

   I chaired the department for many years.

7. 7
   noun

   An item of furniture used to sit on or in, comprising a seat, legs or wheels, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person.

   All I need to weather a snowstorm is hot coffee, a warm fire, a good book and a comfortable chair.

8. 8
   noun

   Clipping of chairperson.

   Under the rules of order adopted by the board, the chair may neither make nor second motions.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥-th₂der.? Proto-Hellenic *kətá Ancient Greek κᾰτᾰ́ (kătắ) Proto-Indo-European *sed-der. Proto-Indo-European *sedreh₂ Proto-Hellenic *hédrā Ancient Greek ἕδρᾱ (hédrā) Ancient Greek κᾰθέδρᾱ (kăthédrā)bor. Latin cathedrader. Old French chaierebor. Middle English chayere English chair From Middle English chayere, chayer, chayre, 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 a…