Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - chair

n. & v. --n. 1 a separate seat for one person, of various forms, usu. having a back and four legs. 2 a a professorship (offered the chair in physics). b a seat of authority, esp. on a board of directors. c a mayoralty. 3 a a chairperson. b the seat or office of a chairperson (will you take the chair?; I'm in the chair). 4 US = electric chair. 5 an iron or steel socket holding a railway rail in place. 6 hist. = sedan chair. --v.tr. 1 act as chairperson of or preside over (a meeting). 2 Brit. carry (a person) aloft in a chair or in a sitting position, in triumph. 3 install in a chair, esp. as a position of authority. Phrases and idioms chair-bed a chair that unfolds into a bed. chair-borne colloq. (of an administrator) not active. chair-car a railway carriage with chairs instead of long seats; a parlour car. chair-lift a series of chairs on an endless cable for carrying passengers up and down a mountain etc. take a chair sit down. Etymology: ME f. AF chaere, OF chaiere f. L cathedra f. Gk kathedra: see CATHEDRAL