TOP

Definition of bench noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

bench

noun
 
/bentʃ/
 
/bentʃ/
jump to other results
  1. [countable] a long seat for two or more people, usually made of wood
    • a park bench
    Topics Gardensc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • empty
    • long
    • narrow
    verb + bench
    • sit (down) on
    bench + noun
    • seat
    preposition
    • on a/​the bench
    See full entry
  2. the bench
    [singular] (law) a judge in court or the seat where he/she sits; the position of being a judge or magistrate
    • His lawyer turned to address the bench.
    • She has recently been appointed to the bench.
  3. [countable, usually plural] (in the British parliament) a seat where a particular group of politicians sit
    • There was cheering from the Opposition benches.
    see also back bench, front benchTopics Politicsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • government
    • Opposition
    • Conservative
    verb + bench
    • be on
    • sit on
    preposition
    • from the… benchs
    • on the… benchs
    See full entry
  4. the bench
    [singular] (sport) the seats where players sit when they are not playing in the game
    • the substitutes’ bench
    • He started the game on the bench but finished as the team’s top scorer.
    • He's sick of spending every game on the bench.
    Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • empty
    • long
    • narrow
    verb + bench
    • sit (down) on
    bench + noun
    • seat
    preposition
    • on a/​the bench
    See full entry
  5. (also workbench)
    [countable] a long heavy table used for doing practical jobs, working with tools, etc.
    • a carpenter’s bench
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • work
    • carpenter’s
    • lab
    preposition
    • at a/​the bench
    See full entry
  6. Word OriginOld English benc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bank and German Bank.
See bench in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
given
adjective
 
 
From the Word list
OPAL spoken words
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day