bench

noun

• 1a long seat for several people, typically made of wood or stone.

• 2a long, sturdy work table used by a carpenter, mechanic, scientist, or other worker.

• 3 (the bench) the office of judge or magistrate:his appointment to the civil bench
• a judge’s seat in a court.
• judges or magistrates collectively:rulings from the bench

• 4British a seat in Parliament for politicians of a specified party or position:the Conservative benches the Opposition benches
• the politicians occupying a specific seat in Parliament:the pledge that was given by the Opposition benches yesterday

• 5 (the bench) a seat on which sports coaches and players sit during a game when they are not playing.

• 6a flat ledge in masonry or on sloping ground.

verb

• 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; substitute:the coach benched quarterback Randall Cunningham in favor of Jim McMahon

• 3short for bench press.