Definition

1. Noun:

   • A seat for one person, with a support for the back: A piece of furniture designed for sitting on, typically having four legs and a backrest.
   • The officer who presides at the meetings of an organization: The person in charge of a meeting or committee, responsible for ensuring it runs smoothly and according to rules.
   • The position of professor: A permanent, endowed professorship at a university.
   • A particular seat in an orchestra: A designated position for a musician within an orchestral section.
   • An instrument of execution by electrocution: A device used for capital punishment, resembling an ordinary seat.

2. Verb:

   • To act or preside as chair: To be the person in charge of a meeting, committee, or academic department.
   • To preside over: To lead or moderate a discussion or event.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He put his coat over the back of the chair and sat down.
  • Address your remarks to the chairperson.
  • He was awarded an endowed chair in economics.
  • He is second chair violin.
  • The murderer was sentenced to die in the chair.

• Verb:

  • She chaired the department for many years.
  • John will chair the meeting this afternoon.

Advanced Usage

• "To take the chair": To begin a meeting by assuming the role of the chairperson.

  • The vice-president will take the chair in the president's absence.

• "To be in the chair": To be the person currently presiding over a meeting.

  • With Ms. Jones in the chair, the debate was very orderly.

• "To chair a session/panel": To act as the moderator for a specific part of a conference or event.

  • The renowned scientist was invited to chair the plenary session.

Variants and Related Words

• Chairperson (n): A neutral term for the person who presides over a meeting or organization.
• Chairman / Chairwoman (n): Gendered terms for the presiding officer (less commonly used now in favor of "chair" or "chairperson").
• Chairmanship (n): The office or period of being a chairperson.
• Chaired (adj): Describing a professorship that is endowed.
  • He holds a chaired professorship.

Synonyms

• Noun (seat): Seat, armchair, stool.
• Noun (presiding officer): Presiding officer, moderator, president, convener.
• Verb: Preside over, moderate, lead, conduct.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Chair a meeting/committee: To lead a formal gathering.
  • It's her responsibility to chair the weekly committee meeting.

Related Idioms

• "Play musical chairs": A situation where people frequently exchange positions or roles.

  • The constant reshuffling of staff felt like playing musical chairs.

• "Take a back seat": To assume a less active or prominent role. (Note: This idiom uses "seat," not "chair," but is conceptually related to positions of authority).

  • After the merger, the founder decided to take a back seat.

Noun

1. a particular seat in an orchestra
   • he is second chair violin
2. an instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an ordinary seat for one person
   • the murderer was sentenced to die in the chair
3. the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization
   • address your remarks to the chairperson
4. the position of professor
   • he was awarded an endowed chair in economics
5. a seat for one person, with a support for the back
   • he put his coat over the back of the chair and sat down

Verb

1. preside over
   • John moderated the discussion
2. act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university
   • She chaired the department for many years