■ noun
1》 a separate seat for one person, typically with a back and four legs.
2》 the person in charge of a meeting or an organization (used as a neutral alternative to ~man or ~woman).
↘the role of a ~person.
3》 a professorship.
4》 ( the ~ ) US short for electric ~ .
5》 chiefly Brit. a metal socket holding a rail in place on a railway sleeper.
■ verb
1》 act as ~person of.
2》 Brit. carry (someone) aloft in a ~ or in a sitting position to celebrate a victory.
Origin
ME: from OFr. chaiere (mod. ~e 'bishop's throne', chaise '~'), from L. cathedra 'seat', from Gk kathedra ; cf. cathedral .