bench

plural benches · alternative dialectal benk · alternative dialectal bink

1. 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.

   1 more example

   Scarborough station's famous 139-metre-long bench, believed to be the longest in the world, has been restored in a £14,500 project.

   2021 January 27, “Stop & Examine”, in RAIL, number 923, page 71, photo caption

2. The seat where the judges sit in court.
   1. figurativelylawThe people who decide on the verdict, collectively; the judiciary.

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

      Synonyms: justiciary, judicature, judicial, judiciary, judicial branch, justiciary

   2. figurativelylawThe office or dignity of a judge.

      She sat on the bench for 30 years before she retired.

      Synonyms: justiceship, judgeship, judicature, justiceship, justiciary

3. A seat where people sit together in an official capacity.
   1. governmentA long seat for politicians in a parliamentary chamber.

      the government front bench

      1 more example

      On the opposition benches at Holyrood, Scottish Labour's transport spokesman Neil Bibby favours a more formal approach of involving passenger and worker representatives in the management of ScotRail.

      2022 April 6, Conrad Landin, “ScotRail in the public eye...”, in RAIL, number 954, page 40

   2. figurativelyThe dignity of holding an official seat.

      the civic bench

      1 more example

      the bench of bishops

   3. figurativelyThe people who hold a certain type of official seat, collectively; a group of officeholders.

      Mr. Zuckerberg’s repositioning of Meta started in earnest last year, when he began rearranging his bench of lieutenants.

      2022 July 26, Mike Isaac, “‘Operating With Increased Intensity’: Zuckerberg Leads Meta Into Next Phase”, in The New York Times

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

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

   1 more example

   But Chelsea, who left Didier Drogba on the bench as coach Carlo Ancelotti favoured Fernando Torres, staged a stirring fightback to move up to fourth and keep United in their sights on a night when nothing other than victory would have kept the Blues in contention.

   2011 March 1, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2 - 1 Man Utd”, in BBC

   1. figurativelygovernmentThe number of players on a team able to participate, often expressed in terms of length.

      Injuries have shortened the bench.

5. 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.

6. A horizontal padded surface, usually adjustable in height and inclination and often with attached weight rack, used for proper posture during exercise.

   2008, Lou Schuler, "Foreward", in Nate Green, Built for Show, page xii I had no bench or power rack, so by necessity every exercise I did started with the weights on the floor.

7. geographyA bracket used to mount land surveying equipment onto a stone or a wall.

   After removing the bench, we can use the mark left on the wall as a reference point.

8. A flat ledge in the slope of an earthwork, work of masonry, or similar.

   That number carried his glance to the top of this first bulging bench of cliff-base.

   1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 8, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC

9. geographyA thin strip of relatively flat land bounded by steeper slopes above and below.
10. AustraliaNew ZealandA kitchen surface on which to prepare food, a counter.

    Synonyms: benchtop

11. AustraliaNew ZealandA bathroom surface which holds the washbasin, a vanity.
12. A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public, traditionally on benches or raised platforms.

present singular third person benches · participle present benching · participle past benched · past benched · alternative dialectal benk · alternative dialectal bink

1. transitivehobbiesTo remove a player from play.

   They benched him for the rest of the game because they thought he was injured.

   1 more example

   OK, you are out! You’re benched!

   2016, Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea, spoken by hockey coach (Tate Donovan)

   Synonyms: sideline

2. figurativelytransitiveTo remove someone from a position of responsibility temporarily.
3. slangTo push a person backward against a conspirator behind them who is on their hands and knees, causing them to fall over.
4. transitiveTo furnish with benches.

   'Twas benched with turf.

   1700, [John] Dryden, “The Flower and the Leaf: Or, The Lady in the Arbour. A Vision.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   stately theatres benched crescent-wise

   1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part 2”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

5. transitiveTo place on a bench or seat of honour.

   whom I […] have benched and reared to worship

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

present singular third person benches · participle present benching · participle past benched · past benched

1. colloquialintransitivetransitiveTo lift by bench pressing

   I heard she can bench 150 pounds.

   1 more example

   1988, Frederick C. Hatfield, "Powersource: Ties that bind", Ironman 47 (6): 21. For the first several years of my exclusive career in powerlifting, I couldn't bench too well.

plural benches

1. hobbiesThe weight one is able to bench press, especially the maximum weight capable of being pressed.

   He became frustrated when his bench increased by only 10 pounds despite a month of training.

present singular third person benches · participle present benching · participle past benched · past benched

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of bentsh.

1. uncountableA language spoken in Ethiopia
2. uncountableThe people who speak the Bench language

plural Benches

1. A surname.