Definition for bench - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

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	bench (bench) Pronunciation: /bɛn(t)ʃ/ noun 1a long seat for several people, typically made of wood or stone: a park bench 2a long work table in a workshop or laboratory: a 19th-century wheelwright’s bench 3a judge’s seat in a law court. (the bench) the office of judge or magistrate: his appointment to the civil bench a judge or magistrate presiding over a particular case. 4British a long seat in Parliament for politicians of a specified party: the Conservative benches the politicians occupying a specified bench in Parliament: the pledge that was given by the Opposition benches yesterday 5 (the bench) a seat at the side of a sports field for coaches, substitutes, and players not taking part in a game: he must settle for a place on the substitute’s bench 6a flat ledge in masonry or on sloping ground. verb [with object] 1exhibit (a dog) at a show: Affenpinschers and Afghans were benched side by side [from the practice of exhibiting dogs on benches] 2North American withdraw (a sports player) from play: the coach benched quarterback Cunningham in favour of McMahon 3short for bench-press. he benched almost 500 pounds Phrases on the bench 1appointed as or in the capacity of a judge or magistrate: he retired after twenty-five years on the bench 2acting as one of the possible substitutes in a sports match: Robson will again be on the bench Origin: Old English benc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bank and German Bank, also to bank¹		Search results in the dictionary Bench, Johnny bench run bench press bench seat bench table bench test More results » More words in this category cabinetmaker cabriole leg coromandel cot 1 cupboard davenport footstool furnishing handbasin hassock hearthrug highboy Morris chair roll-top desk sunbed tabouret vanity worktable Nearby Words bemusement ben ¹ ben ² Ben Bella, Ahmed Ben Nevis ben trovato Ben-Gurion, David Benares Benbecula bench bench press bench run bench seat bench table bench test bench warrant Bench, Johnny bencher Benchley