/ bentʃ; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] a long seat for two or more people, usually made of wood :
a park bench
2.
the bench [ sing. ] ( law ) a judge in court or the seat where he/she sits; the position of being a judge or magistrate :
His lawyer turned to address the bench.
She has recently been appointed to the bench.
3.
[ C , usually pl. ] (in the British Parliament) a seat where a particular group of politicians sit :
There was cheering from the Opposition benches.
—see also back bench , the front bench
4.
the bench [ sing. ] ( sport ) the seats where players sit when they are not playing in the game :
the substitutes' bench
5.
[ C ] = workbench :
a carpenter's bench
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English benc , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bank and German Bank .