seat

[ seet ]
See synonyms for: seatseatedseatingseats on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. something designed to support a person in a sitting position, as a chair, bench, or pew; a place on or in which one sits.

  2. the part of a chair, sofa, or the like, on which one sits.

  1. the part of the body on which one sits; the buttocks.

  2. the part of the garment covering it: the seat of one's pants.

  3. a manner of or posture used in sitting, as on a horse.

  4. something on which the base of an object rests.

  5. the base itself.

  6. a place in which something belongs, occurs, or is established; site; location.

  7. a place in which administrative power or the like is centered: the seat of the government.

  8. a part of the body considered as the place in which an emotion or function is centered: The heart is the seat of passion.

  9. the office or authority of a king, bishop, etc.: the episcopal seat.

  10. a space in which a spectator or patron may sit; accommodation for sitting, as in a theater or stadium.

  11. right of admittance to such a space, especially as indicated by a ticket.

  12. a right to sit as a member in a legislative or similar body: to hold a seat in the senate.

  13. a right to the privileges of membership in a stock exchange or the like.

verb (used with object)
  1. to place on a seat or seats; cause to sit down.

  2. to usher to a seat or find a seat for: to be seated in the front row.

  1. to have seats for; accommodate with seats: a theater that seats 1200 people.

  2. to put a seat on or into (a chair, garment, etc.).

  3. to install in a position or office of authority, in a legislative body, etc.

  4. to fit (a valve) with a seat.

  5. to attach to or place firmly in or on something as a base: Seat the telescope on the tripod.

verb (used without object)
  1. (of a cap, valve, etc.) to be closed or in proper position: Be sure that the cap of the dipstick seats.

Idioms about seat

  1. by the seat of one's pants, using experience, instinct, or guesswork.

Origin of seat

1
1150–1200; Middle English sete (noun) <Old Norse sæti

Other words for seat

Other words from seat

  • seater, noun
  • seatless, adjective
  • mis·seat, verb (used with object)
  • un·der·seat·ed, adjective
  • well-seated, adjective

Words Nearby seat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use seat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for seat

seat

/ (siːt) /


noun
  1. a piece of furniture designed for sitting on, such as a chair or sofa

  2. the part of a chair, bench, etc, on which one sits

  1. a place to sit, esp one that requires a ticket: I have two seats for the film tonight

  2. the buttocks

  3. the part of a garment covering the buttocks

  4. the part or area serving as the base of an object

  5. the part or surface on which the base of an object rests

  6. the place or centre in which something is located: a seat of government

  7. a place of abode, esp a country mansion that is or was originally the chief residence of a family

  8. a membership or the right to membership in a legislative or similar body

  9. mainly British a parliamentary constituency

  10. membership in a stock exchange

  11. the manner in which a rider sits on a horse

  12. by the seat of one's pants by instinct rather than knowledge or experience

  13. on seat Western African informal (of officials) in the office rather than on tour or on leave: the agricultural advisor will be on seat tomorrow

verb
  1. (tr) to bring to or place on a seat; cause to sit down

  2. (tr) to provide with seats

  1. (tr; often passive) to place or centre: the ministry is seated in the capital

  2. (tr) to set firmly in place

  3. (tr) to fix or install in a position of power

  4. (tr) to put a seat on or in (an item of furniture, garment, etc)

  5. (intr) (of garments) to sag in the area covering the buttocks: your thin skirt has seated badly

Origin of seat

1
Old English gesete; related to Old Norse sæti, Old High German gasāzi, Middle Dutch gesaete

Derived forms of seat

  • seatless, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with seat

seat

In addition to the idiom beginning with seat

  • seat of the pants, by the

also see:

  • backseat driver
  • catbird seat
  • hot seat
  • in the driver's seat
  • ringside seat
  • take a back seat

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.