| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | benc |
1 a long seat for two or more people, especially outdoors :
We sat on a park bench.
outdoor seat
[countable]D
We sat on a park bench.2
in a law court
the bench
SCLa) the seat where a judge or magistrate sits in a court of law :
Would the prisoner please approach the bench?
Would the prisoner please approach the bench?b) SCL the position of being a judge or magistrate in a court of law :
He was appointed to the bench last year.
He was appointed to the bench last year. sit/serve on the bench (=work as a judge or magistrate)
3 the seat where members of a sports team sit when they are not playing in the game :
sports
the bench
DS4 the seats in the British parliament where members of a particular party sit :
There was cheering from the Conservative benches. ➔ backbench, backbenches, front bench
parliament
benches
[plural] British EnglishPGP
There was cheering from the Conservative benches.5 a long heavy table used for working on with tools or equipment :
a carpenter's bench
table
[countable]TIC
a carpenter's bench