chair

A seat for one person, usually with a back and four legs.

• Please take a chair.
• She sat on the chair by the window.
• We need two more chairs for dinner.

Similar words: seat

Common phrases: sit on a chair, wooden chair, comfortable chair

The person who leads a meeting or committee, or the position they hold.

• The chair opened the meeting.
• She was elected chair of the committee.
• Who will take the chair today?

How to use it: chair of something (He is chair of the board.)

Similar words: chairperson, chairman, chairwoman

Common phrases: committee chair, chair of something, elect a chair

An important teaching and research position at a university.

• She holds a chair in history.
• The university created a new chair in physics.
• He was appointed to the chair of mathematics.

How to use it: chair in something (She was offered a chair in chemistry.); chair of something (He holds the chair of philosophy.)

Similar words: professorship

Common phrases: university chair, endowed chair, chair in something

A musician’s assigned place or rank in an orchestra.

• She plays first chair in the violin section.
• He won a chair in the orchestra.
• The second chair became vacant last month.

Similar words: position, seat

Common phrases: first chair, second chair, win a chair

An assigned working place for a hairdresser or barber in a shop.

• She rents a chair at the salon.
• Two chairs are available for new stylists.
• He gave up his chair to open his own shop.

Similar words: station, place

Common phrases: rent a chair, salon chair, available chair

To lead a meeting and manage the discussion.

• She will chair the meeting.
• He chaired the committee for three years.
• Who is chairing today’s discussion?

Similar words: lead, preside over

Common phrases: chair a meeting, chair a committee, chair a discussion

To give a winning poet a ceremonial seat as a prize at a Welsh arts festival.

• They will chair the winning poet.
• She was chaired at the Welsh festival.
• The crowd cheered as the judges chaired the bard.

Common phrases: chair the poet, chair a winner