Etymology From Middle English bench, benk, bynk, from Old English benċ (“bench”), from Proto-West Germanic *banki, from Proto-Germanic *bankiz (“bench”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-. Cognate with Scots benk, bink (“bench”), West Frisian bank (“bench”), Dutch bank (“bench”), German Bank (“bench”), Danish bænk (“bench”), Swedish bänk (“bench”), Icelandic bekkur (“bench”). Doublet of banc, banco, and bank.
A long seat with or without a back, found for example in parks and schools.
They sat on a park bench and tossed bread crumbs to the ducks and pigeons.
Scarborough station's famous 139-metre-long bench, believed to be the longest in the world, has been restored in a £14,500 project.2021 January 27, “Stop & Examine”, in RAIL, number 923, page 71, photo caption:
› The seat where the judges sit in court.
2
LawFiguratively The people who decide on the verdict, collectively; the judiciary.
They are awaiting a decision on the motion from the bench.
She sat on the bench for 30 years before she retired.
› A seat where people sit together in an…
4
Government A long seat for politicians in a parliamentary chamber.
the government front bench
On the opposition benches at Holyrood, Scottish Labour's transport spokesman Neil Bibby favours a more formal approach of involving passenger and worker representatives in the management of ScotRail.2022 April 6, Conrad Landin, “ScotRail in the public eye...”, in RAIL, number 954, page 40:
5
Figuratively The dignity of holding an official seat.
the bench of bishops
the civic bench
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Figuratively The people who hold a certain type of official seat, collectively; a group of officeholders.
Mr. Zuckerberg’s repositioning of Meta started in earnest last year, when he began rearranging his bench of lieutenants.2022 July 26, Mike Isaac, “‘Operating With Increased Intensity’: Zuckerberg Leads Meta Into Next Phase”, in The New York Times:
7
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The place where players (substitutes) and coaches sit when not playing.
He spent the first three games on the bench, watching.
But Chelsea, who left Didier Drogba on the bench as coach Carlo Ancelotti favoured Fernando Torres, staged a stirring fightback to move up to fourth and keep United in their sights on a night when nothing other than victory would have kept the Blues in contention.2011 March 1, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2 - 1 Man Utd”, in BBC:
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Government, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Politics, SportsFiguratively The number of players on a team able to participate, often expressed in terms of length.
Injuries have shortened the bench.
9
A place where assembly or hand work is performed; a workbench.
She placed the workpiece on the bench, inspected it closely, and opened the cover.
10
A horizontal padded surface, usually adjustable in height and inclination and often with attached weight rack, used for proper posture during exercise.
2008, Lou Schuler, "Foreward", in Nate Green, Built for Show, page xii I had no bench or power rack, so by necessity every exercise I did started with the weights on the floor.
11
Geography, Natural sciences, Surveying A bracket used to mount land surveying equipment onto a stone or a wall.
After removing the bench, we can use the mark left on the wall as a reference point.
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A flat ledge in the slope of an earthwork, work of masonry, or similar.
That number carried his glance to the top of this first bulging bench of cliff-base.1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 8, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC:
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Geography, Geology, Natural sciences A thin strip of relatively flat land bounded by steeper slopes above and below.
Etymology From Middle English bench, benk, bynk, from Old English benċ (“bench”), from Proto-West Germanic *banki, from Proto-Germanic *bankiz (“bench”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-. Cognate with Scots benk, bink (“bench”), West Frisian bank (“bench”), Dutch bank (“bench”), German Bank (“bench”), Danish bænk (“bench”), Swedish bänk (“bench”), Icelandic bekkur (“bench”). Doublet of banc, banco, and bank.
1
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To remove a player from play.
They benched him for the rest of the game because they thought he was injured.
OK, you are out! You’re benched!2016, Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea, spoken by hockey coach (Tate Donovan):
2
Figuratively To remove someone from a position of responsibility temporarily.
3
Slang To push a person backward against a conspirator behind them who is on their hands and knees, causing them to fall over.
4
To furnish with benches.
'Twas benched with turf.1700, [John] Dryden, “The Flower and the Leaf: Or, The Lady in the Arbour. A Vision.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
stately theatres benched crescent-wise1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part 2”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
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To place on a bench or seat of honour.
whom I […] have benched and reared to worshipc. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
1988, Frederick C. Hatfield, "Powersource: Ties that bind", Ironman 47 (6): 21. For the first several years of my exclusive career in powerlifting, I couldn't bench too well.
bench
noun
Etymology From bench press by shortening.
1
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports, Weightlifting The weight one is able to bench press, especially the maximum weight capable of being pressed.
He became frustrated when his bench increased by only 10 pounds despite a month of training.