Definition

1. Noun:

   • A long seat for more than one person: A piece of furniture, typically made of wood or metal, designed to seat several people, often found in public places like parks or waiting areas.
   • A strong worktable for a carpenter or mechanic: A sturdy table used for working on projects, often with tools or a vise attached.
   • (Law) The seat for judges in a courtroom: The physical seat or the area where a judge sits during court proceedings.
   • (Law) The magistrate or judge or judges sitting in court: Refers to the judge or the collective body of judges presiding over a court, representing the court's authority.
   • The reserve players on a team: The group of substitute players on a sports team who are not currently playing in the game.
   • Persons who administer justice: A collective term for judges or magistrates.
   • A level shelf of land interrupting a declivity: A flat, narrow area of land on a slope.

2. Verb:

   • To exhibit on a bench: To present an animal, especially a dog, for show or judging while it is placed on a bench.
   • To take out of a game; of players: To remove a player from active participation in a sports match.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • We sat on a park bench to eat our lunch.
  • The carpenter repaired the chair at his work bench.
  • The defendant stood before the bench.
  • The bench ruled that the evidence was inadmissible.
  • Our basketball team has a deep bench this season.
  • The proposal was criticized by both the bench and the bar.

• Verb:

  • The handler will bench the terrier at noon for judging.
  • The coach decided to bench the star player after two fouls.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on the bench": To serve as a judge or magistrate. Can also mean to be a substitute player in a sport.

  • After years as a barrister, she is now on the bench.
  • He spent the first half of the game on the bench.

• "To be raised to the bench": To be appointed as a judge.

  • The distinguished lawyer was raised to the bench last year.

• "The bench and the bar": A phrase referring collectively to judges and practicing lawyers.

Variants and Related Words

• Workbench (n): A sturdy table at which manual work is done.
• Benchmark (n): A standard or point of reference. (Note: This is a distinct compound word).
• Bencher (n): A senior member in an Inn of Court in London.

Synonyms

• Noun (seat): Pew, settle, form.
• Noun (judges): Judiciary, court, magistracy.
• Noun (reserves): Substitutes, reserves, second string.
• Verb (exhibit): Show, present.
• Verb (remove player): Sideline, pull out.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• "Warm the bench": To serve as a substitute player who rarely gets to play in games.
  • The rookie spent his first season warming the bench.

Related Idioms

• "Bench strength": The quality and depth of the substitute players on a team; by extension, the depth of talent or resources in any organization.
  • The company's success is due to its strong bench strength in engineering.

Noun

1. (law) the seat for judges in a courtroom
2. the reserve players on a team
   • our team has a strong bench
3. the magistrate or judge or judges sitting in court in judicial capacity to compose the court collectively
4. a strong worktable for a carpenter or mechanic
5. persons who administer justice
6. a level shelf of land interrupting a declivity (with steep slopes above and below)
7. a long seat for more than one person

Verb

1. exhibit on a bench
   • bench the poodles at the dog show
2. take out of a game; of players