n. & v.
--n.
1. a thing made or used for sitting on; a chair, stool, saddle, etc.
2 the buttocks.
3 the part of the trousers etc. covering the buttocks.
4 the part of a chair etc. on which the sitter's weight directly rests.
5 a place for one person in a theatre, vehicle, etc.
6 the occupation of a seat.
7 esp. Brit. a the right to occupy a seat, esp. as a Member of the House of Commons. b a member's constituency.
8 the part of a machine that supports or guides another part.
9 a site or location of something specified (a seat of learning; the seat of the emotions).
10 a country mansion, esp. with large grounds.
11 the manner of sitting on a horse etc.
--v.tr.
1. cause to sit.
2 a provide sitting accommodation for (the cinema seats 500). b provide with seats.
3 (as seated adj.) sitting.
4 put or fit in position.
Phrases and idioms:
be seated sit down. by the seat of one's pants colloq. by instinct rather than logic or knowledge. seat-belt a belt securing a person in the seat of a car or aircraft. take a (or one's) seat sit down.
Derivatives:
seatless adj.
Etymology: ME f. ON s{aelig}ti ( OE gesete f. Gmc)