a seat for one person, usu with four legs and a back and sometimes with arms
an office or position of authority or dignity; specif a professorship
a chairman or chairwoman
= sedan chair
(the chair) NAmer = electric chair
a deep-grooved metal block fastened to a railway sleeper to hold a rail in place
[Middle English via Old French chaiere and Latin cathedra from Greek kathedra, from kata- cata- + hedra seat]