bench
/ˈbɛnt͡ʃ/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms benches benching benched benk bink
- noun A long seat with or without a back, found for example in parks and schools. “They sat on a park bench and tossed bread crumbs to the ducks and pigeons.”
- noun (law, figuratively) The people who decide on the verdict, collectively; the judiciary. “They are awaiting a decision on the motion from the bench.”
- noun (law, figuratively) The office or dignity of a judge. “She sat on the bench for 30 years before she retired.”
- noun (government) A long seat for politicians in a parliamentary chamber. “the government front bench”
- noun (figuratively) The dignity of holding an official seat. “the bench of bishops”
- noun (figuratively) The people who hold a certain type of official seat, collectively; a group of officeholders.
- noun (sports) The place where players (substitutes) and coaches sit when not playing. “He spent the first three games on the bench, watching.”
- noun (sports, politics, figuratively) The number of players on a team able to participate, often expressed in terms of length. “Injuries have shortened the bench.”
- verb (transitive, sports) To remove a player from play. “They benched him for the rest of the game because they thought he was injured.”
- verb (transitive, figuratively) To remove someone from a position of responsibility temporarily.
- verb (slang) To push a person backward against a conspirator behind them who is on their hands and knees, causing them to fall over.
- verb (transitive) To furnish with benches.
- verb (transitive) To place on a bench or seat of honour.
- verb (transitive and intransitive, colloquial) To lift by bench pressing “I heard he can bench 150 pounds.”
- noun (weightlifting) The weight one is able to bench press, especially the maximum weight capable of being pressed. “He became frustrated when his bench increased by only 10 pounds despite a month of training.”
- proper noun A language spoken in Ethiopia
- proper noun The people who speak the Bench language
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
justiciary judicature judicial judiciary judicial branch justiceship judgeship benchtop sideline terrace workbench work bench
Etymology
From Middle English bench, benk, bynk, from Old English benċ (“bench”), from Proto-West Germanic *banki, from Proto-Germanic *bankiz (“bench”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-.
Cognate with Scots benk, bink (“bench”), West Frisian bank (“bench”), Dutch bank (“bench”), German Bank (“bench”), Danish bænk (“bench”), Swedish bänk (“bench”), Icelandic bekkur (“bench”). Doublet of banc, banco, and bank.
From bench press by shortening.
See bentsh.
From Bench [Term?] (bentʂnon).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length.
- noun A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's bench.
- verb To furnish with benches.
- verb To place on a bench or seat of honor.
Etymology [OE. bench, benk, AS. benc; akin to Sw. bänk, Dan bænk, Icel. bekkr, OS., D., & G. bank. Cf. Bank, Beach.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “bench”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details