chair

plural chairs · alternative chur

1. 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.

   I sat on my chair to have dinner.

   3 more examples

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

   There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs,[…], and all these articles[…] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

2. abbreviationclippingoftenwith definite articlealso written ChairClipping of chairperson.

   She will be the first lady to serve as chair of the committee.

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

   The Chair behaves himself like a Busby amongst so many school-boys[…]and takes a little too much on him.

   , Thomas Burton, edited by John Towill Rutt, Diary, London: Henry Colburn, published 1828, page 243

   It can hardly be conceived that the Chair would fail to gain the support of the House.

   1887 September 5, The Times

   He was elected to the chair of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in 1827 at the newly-founded London University, and became prominent in railway controversies in the 'thirties, when he came off second best in a dispute with Daniel Gooch about the effects of speed on the human frame.

   1950 March, Michael Robbins, “Dr. Lardner's "Railway Economy"”, in Railway Magazine, page 153

   She adds: "I'd also like to think that as chair I was friendly but firm. I wanted to encourage people to give evidence, while there are others who need to be coaxed, held to account and asked tough questions."

   2020 June 3, Lilian Greenwood talks to Paul Stephen, “Rail's 'underlying challenges' remain”, in Rail, page 34

3. usuallywith definite articleThe post or position of chairperson.

   The meeting began, with Mr Roberts in the chair.

4. entertainmentThe seating position of a particular musician in an orchestra.

   My violin teacher used to play first chair with the Boston Pops.

5. rail transportA cast-iron component used on railways to support bullhead rails and secure them to the sleepers.

   The wooden or steel keys used to secure bull-head rails in their chairs are usually driven in the direction of the traffic, so that the effects of rail-creep may be made use of to wedge the keys more firmly, rather than to encourage them to drop out.

   1934 February, “The Why and The Wherefore: Chair-keys”, in Railway Magazine, page 139

6. physicalchemistryOne of two possible conformers of cyclohexane rings (the other being boat), shaped roughly like a chair.
7. abbreviationellipsisinformalEllipsis of electric chair (“device used for performing execution”).

   The court will show no mercy; if he gets convicted, it's the chair for him.

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   "It was me. And I'm glad, damned glad, I didn't croak him. With this slick guy after me, it would be me for the chair."

   1920 June 28, The Electrical Experimenter, New York, page 216, column 2

   'All for a pig of a man who should have gone to the chair.'

   1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 8, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 251

   Believe it or not, it only looked like I was trying to send you to the chair.

   1949, Isobel Lennart, Holiday Affair, spoken by Carl Davis (Wendell Corey)

   "Scoleri Brothers!" "Friends of yours?" "I tried them for murder! Gave them the chair!"

   1989 June 16, Ivan Reitman, director, Ghostbusters II

   I hope you die in prison as well — and if this was a death penalty state you'd be getting the chair.

   2014 April 18, John McBain, as quoted, “Judge Lashes Out At Convicted Murderer”, in Sky News

8. educationA distinguished professorship at a university.

   In 1928 [Martin] Heidegger succeeded [Edmund] Husserl to take a chair at Freiburg […]

   2014 April 12, Michael Inwood, “Martin Heidegger: the philosopher who fell for Hitler [print version: Hitler's philosopher]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review), London, page R11

9. A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or a two-wheeled carriage drawn by one horse; a gig.

   Enter Mortimer, brought in a Chayre, and Iaylors.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v], page 104, column 2

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   She always leaves her Chair at the milliner's in the next Street.

   1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, IV.iii

   Think what an equipage thou haſt in air, And view with ſcorn two pages and a chair.

   1712, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Beauties of Pope, London: G. Kearsley, published 1783, page 32

   The chairs came at the appointed hour, and Ethel could not but be amused at the glimpses she had of the park along which they were carried; although haunted by misgivings as to the judiciousness of their destination. They were set down in a hall of large dimensions, hung round with portraits, and filled with servants, who had more the air of guards.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “An Interview”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 211

10. The seat or office of a person in authority, such as a judge or bishop.
11. An assigned position in a beauty salon or barbershop.

    Melinda has the best chair in the salon.

present singular third person chairs · participle present chairing · participle past chaired · past chaired · alternative chur

1. transitiveartsTo act as chairperson at; to preside over.

   Bob will chair tomorrow's meeting.

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   Dama ben Netina, the gentile "Mayor" of first-century Ashkelon, was once chairing a meeting of the City Council.

   2000, David Golinkin, “Institutionalizing Parents With Alzheimer's Disease”, in Responsa in a Moment, volume 3, page 38

   Greenwood told RAIL she was disappointed that Parliamentary rules prevented her from chairing the TSC [Transport Select Committee] beyond last December's General Election, [...] She added: "I'm gutted I'm no longer able to chair the committee, I'm not going to lie. But I know it's in good hands and I'm still able to play my part as a member in the work we're doing.

   2020 May 20, “Merriman praised over handling of TSC's 'virtual' transition”, in Rail, page 12

2. transitiveTo carry in a seated position upon one's shoulders, especially in celebration or victory.

   The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the marketplace.

   1896, A. E. Houseman, “To An Athlete Dying Young,”, in A Shropshire Lad

3. UKWalestransitiveTo award a chair to (a winning poet) at a Welsh eisteddfod.

   The poet was chaired at the national Eisteddfod.

1. oftenwith definite articleChairperson.

   Please address all questions through the Chair.

1. slanglifestyleThe ship of characters Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf of the Gossip Girl series.

   His skill renders Becker's portrayal of Prince Grimaldi, a lover and future husband, futile in the wake of Chair (Chuck and Blair).

   2011, Brionna Jimerson, "'Gossip Girl' conceives unrealistic plotlines, child", The Tufts Daily (Tufts University), 6 October 2011, page 11

   2 more examples

   We can already tell which idyllic couples obsessive fans will fantasize about like Chair (Chuck and Blaire of "Gossip Girl") and Jim and Pam of "The Office."

   2012 October 18, Haley Boston, “TV Review: 'Nashville'”, in The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University, page 4

   Although Josh Schwartz suggests that “Chair” or “Dair” fans are embroiled in a “battle” on Twitter, the users of the Gossip Girl FanForum do not appear to engage with each other directly.

   2014, Lori Bindig, Gossip Girl: A Critical Understanding, page 143