chair   (châr)    n.   A piece of furniture consisting of a seat, legs, back, and often arms, designed to accommodate one person. A seat of office, authority, or dignity, such as that of a bishop. An office or position of authority, such as a professorship. A person who holds an office or a position of authority, such as one who presides over a meeting or administers a department of instruction at a college; a chairperson. The position of a player in an orchestra. Slang The electric chair. A seat carried about on poles; a sedan chair. Any of several devices that serve to support or secure, such as a metal block that supports and holds railroad track in position. tr.v.   chaired, chair·ing, chairs To install in a position of authority, especially as a presiding officer. To preside over as chairperson: chair a meeting. [Middle English chaiere, from Old French, from Latin cathedra; see cathedra.]

Chair

Chair\, n. [OE. chaiere, chaere, OF. chaiere, chaere, F. chaire pulpit, fr. L. cathedra chair, armchair, a teacher's or professor's chair, Gr. ? down + ? seat, ? to sit, akin to E. sit. See Sit, and cf. Cathedral, chaise.]

1. A movable single seat with a back.

2. An official seat, as of a chief magistrate or a judge, but esp. that of a professor; hence, the office itself.

The chair of a philosophical school. --Whewell.

A chair of philology. --M. Arnold.

3. The presiding officer of an assembly; a chairman; as, to address the chair.

4. A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig. --Shak.

Think what an equipage thou hast in air, And view with scorn two pages and a chair. --Pope.

5. An iron block used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers.

Chair days, days of repose and age.

To put into the chair, to elect as president, or as chairman of a meeting. --Macaulay.

To take the chair, to assume the position of president, or of chairman of a meeting.

chair 

chair

see musical chairs.