Chair

/tʃɛər/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A piece of furniture designed for seating one person.

/tʃɛər/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A seat, typically with four legs and a back.

There's an empty chair at the table.

💡 Simply: A chair is like a comfy seat with legs, you sit on it! Like the chair in your living room or classroom.

👶 For kids: It's something you sit on!

More Examples

2

The chair is very comfortable.

How It's Used

Home

"I sat down in the comfortable chair."

Office

"The CEO's chair is made of leather."

2

To act as the chairperson of a meeting.

/tʃɛər/

verbneutralIntermediate
General

To preside over a meeting.

She chaired the committee meeting.

💡 Simply: To chair a meeting means to be in charge of it, like the boss who runs the show!

👶 For kids: To be the boss of a meeting.

More Examples

2

He will chair the session tomorrow.

How It's Used

Meeting

"Professor Smith chaired the department meeting."

Tip:Imagine sitting in the 'chair' of a meeting, leading the discussion.

Idioms & expressions

in the chair

Presiding over a meeting.

"He's in the chair for today's meeting."

From Old French chaiere "seat, chair", from Latin cathedra "seat, especially a judge's seat"

The word 'chair' has its roots in the Latin word 'cathedra', which referred to a raised seat of authority.

Memory tip

Think of a 'chair' as something that helps you 'chair' a meeting - you sit in a chair to lead a meeting.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"seat"

comfortable chairarmchairoffice chairchair a meeting

Common misspellings

chairechayr

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written