26984 words

seat

21 definitions • 47 examples
1
a piece of furniture or part of a train, plane, etc. that has been designed for someone to sit on:

Examples:

Chairs, sofas and benches are different types of seat.
have/take a seat Please have/take a seat (= sit down).
driver's/passenger/front/back/rear seat A car usually has a driver's seat, a front/passenger seat and back/rear seats.
in a seat My ticket says 22D but there's already someone in (= sitting on) that seat.
seat is free/taken Is this seat free/taken (= is anyone using it)?
keep someone's seat (for them) Would you keep (= stop anyone else from sitting in) my seat (for me) while I go get some food?
stay in/keep your seat formal Please stay in/keep your seats (= stay sitting down) until asked to leave.
book/reserve a seat Could I book/reserve two seats (= arrange for them to be officially kept for me) for tomorrow evening's performance?
2
the part of a piece of furniture or clothing on which a person sits:

Examples:

I've spilled some coffee on the seat of the armchair.
The seat of those trousers looks a little tight. Do you want to try a larger size?
3
a person's bottom (= the part of the body that you sit on):

Examples:

When trying out the bike, I had to stop often because my seat was sore.
4
an official position as a politician or member of a group of people who control something:

Examples:

seat on She has a seat on the board of directors.
lose your seat on something He is expected to lose his seat on the city council in next month's elections.
win a seat in She won her seat in Parliament in 2004.
safe seat He has a very safe seat (= a position that is very unlikely to be lost in an election).
5
the place in an office where a particular person sits:

Examples:

I'm sorry - he's not in his seat right now.
6
a place on a course to study something:

Examples:

On receipt of the tuition fees, the college will issue a letter confirming your seat on the course.
7
a place that acts as a base or centre for an important activity:

Examples:

seat of government The seat of government in the US is in Washington, DC.
seat of St Petersburg was the seat of the Russian Revolution.
8
the way that a person sits when riding a horse:

Examples:

Your security and your control of the horse depend greatly on having a good seat.
9
to arrange for someone to have a particular seat:

Examples:

The waiter greeted me with a big smile and seated us by the window.
10
to sit somewhere:

Examples:

"I'm so glad to see you!" she said, seating herself between Eleanor and Marianne.
She seemed restless but eventually seated herself beside him.
Tom seated himself opposite her and tried not to stare.
She had already seated herself behind her desk.
After some deliberation, Sara seated herself by the window.
Having looked out of the window, he returned to his desk and seated himself again.
11
(of a building, room, table, or vehicle) to have enough seats for the stated number of people:

Examples:

The new concert hall seats 1,500 people.
12
with enough seats for the particular number of people:

Examples:

a 2,000-seat theatre
13
a piece of furniture or other place for someone to sit:

Examples:

She left her jacket on the back of her seat.
I got a seat on the flight to New York.
Please take a seat (= sit down).
14
A seat is a part of something on which a person sits:

Examples:

a bicycle seat
There’s a piece of gum stuck under the seat of the chair.
He stood up and brushed the sand off the seat of his pants.
15
an official position as a member of a legislature or group of people who control an organization:

Examples:

She decided to run for a seat on the school board.
16
a place that is a center for an important activity, esp. government:

Examples:

Pittsburgh is the county seat of Alleghany County.
17
to have or be given a place to sit:

Examples:

I was seated between Jasmine and Emily.
The concert hall seats 350.
Our group is still waiting to be seated for dinner.
Please be seated (= sit down).
18

Examples:

a seat in sth a seat in Parliament/the House of Representatives
She is expected to lose her seat at the next election.
19
an official position as a member of a group of people who control a company or organization:

Examples:

a seat on sth The investors demanded several seats on the board.
20
a position as a member of a particular stock exchange, commodities exchange, etc. who has the right to trade there:

Examples:

a seat on sth A seat on the New York Exchange confers membership in the exchange.
21
one of the places on a plane, etc. or in a theatre, etc. where the passengers or audience sit:

Examples:

We managed to find a seat on a later flight.
The best seats at the concert had been reserved for corporate sponsors.

Navigation