seat

UK: /ˈsiːt/ US: /sit/ ,(sēt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

seat /sit/  n. [countable]

1. something to support a person in a sitting position, as a chair:
   His seat is over there.
2. the part of something on which one sits:
   to repair a broken chair seat.
3. the buttocks, or the part of the garment covering the buttocks:
   wet paint on the seat of his pants.
4. something on which the base of an object rests, or the base itself.
5. a place in which something occurs:
   a college as a seat of learning.
6. Government a place in which power is placed or located:
   Washington is the seat of the U.S. government.
7. Government a right to sit as a member, as in a legislative or financial body:
   a seat on the stock exchange.

v. [~ + object]

8. to place on a seat:
   seated himself by the window.
9. to guide to a seat:
   The ushers seated her in the front row.
10. to provide with seats:
    [not: be + ~-ing] a theater that seats 1200 people.
11. Government to install in a position of authority.
12. to attach to something as a base:
    Seat the telescope on the tripod.

Idioms

13. Idioms by the seat of one's pants, using experience and/or guesswork:
    had to land the plane by the seat of her pants.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

seat  (sēt), n. 

1. something designed to support a person in a sitting position, as a chair, bench, or pew;
   a place on or in which one sits.
2. the part of a chair, sofa, or the like, on which one sits.
3. the part of the body on which one sits;
   the buttocks.
4. the part of the garment covering it:
   the seat of one's pants.
5. a manner of or posture used in sitting, as on a horse.
6. something on which the base of an object rests.
7. the base itself.
8. a place in which something belongs, occurs, or is established;
   site;
   location.
9. Government a place in which administrative power or the like is centered:
   the seat of the government.
10. a part of the body considered as the place in which an emotion or function is centered:
    The heart is the seat of passion.
11. the office or authority of a king, bishop, etc.:
    the episcopal seat.
12. a space in which a spectator or patron may sit;
    accommodation for sitting, as in a theater or stadium.
13. right of admittance to such a space, esp. as indicated by a ticket.
14. Government a right to sit as a member in a legislative or similar body:
    to hold a seat in the senate.
15. a right to the privileges of membership in a stock exchange or the like.
16. by the seat of one's pants, using experience, instinct, or guesswork.

v.t. 

17. to place on a seat or seats;
    cause to sit down.
18. to usher to a seat or find a seat for:
    to be seated in the front row.
19. to have seats for;
    accommodate with seats:
    a theater that seats 1200 people.
20. to put a seat on or into (a chair, garment, etc.).
21. Government to install in a position or office of authority, in a legislative body, etc.
22. to fit (a valve) with a seat.
23. to attach to or place firmly in or on something as a base:
    Seat the telescope on the tripod.

v.i. 

24. (of a cap, valve, etc.) to be closed or in proper position:
    Be sure that the cap of the dipstick seats.

• Old Norse sæti
• Middle English sete (noun, nominal) 1150–1200

seat′er, n. 
seat′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. throne, stool.
• 3. bottom, fundament.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

seat / siːt/ noun

1. a piece of furniture designed for sitting on, such as a chair or sofa
2. the part of a chair, bench, etc, on which one sits
3. a place to sit, esp one that requires a ticket: I have two seats for the film tonight
4. the buttocks
5. the part of a garment covering the buttocks
6. the part or area serving as the base of an object
7. the part or surface on which the base of an object rests
8. the place or centre in which something is located: a seat of government
9. a place of abode, esp a country mansion that is or was originally the chief residence of a family
10. a membership or the right to membership in a legislative or similar body
11. a parliamentary constituency
12. the manner in which a rider sits on a horse

verb

1. (transitive) to bring to or place on a seat; cause to sit down
2. (transitive) to provide with seats
3. (tr; often passive) to place or centre: the ministry is seated in the capital
4. (transitive) to set firmly in place
5. (transitive) to fix or install in a position of power
6. (intransitive) (of garments) to sag in the area covering the buttocks: your thin skirt has seated badly

Etymology: Old English gesete; related to Old Norse sæti, Old High German gasāzi, Middle Dutch gesaete