chief
nounadjectiveverbtop 1 000 in film dialogue
- //t͡ʃiːf//
The leader or head of a tribe, organisation, business unit, or other group.
noun
- 1
The leader or head of a tribe, organisation, business unit, or other group.
In virtue of this privilege, in testimony of my affectionate respect for a revered chief, in conformity with what I believe to be the wish of all the Members of the scientific department, over which I have the honour to preside, and to perpetuate the memory of that illustrious master of accurate geographical research, I have determined to name this noble peak of the Himalayas ‘Mont Everest.’
My father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief by both blood and custom.
All firefighters report to the fire chief.
- 2
Headship, the status of being a chief or leader.
Bob is our troubleshooter in chief.
- 3
The top part of a shield or escutcheon; more specifically, an ordinary consisting of the upper part of the field cut off by a horizontal line, generally occupying the top third.
When the Chief is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "On a Chief".
- 4
The principal part or top of anything.
- 5
An informal term of address.
“How old are you, chief?” the elevator guy said.
- 6
An informal term of address. An informal term of address for a Native American or First Nations man.
Etymology
Etymology tree substratebor.? Proto-Indo-European *kap-? Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *káput Proto-Italic *kaput Latin caput Vulgar Latin capus Old French chiefbor. Middle English chef English chief Inherited from Middle English chef, borrowed from Old French chief, from Vulgar Latin capus, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic *kaput, from Proto-Indo-European *káput, from *kap-, possibly from *kap-, possibly borrowed from a substrate language. Doublet of cape (“point of land”), capo, caput, and chef through Latin (possibly also related to cape (“sleeveless garment”) and cap (“head covering”) from Latin cappa); doublet of head and Howth through Proto-Indo-European.
adjective
- 1
Primary; principal.
Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.
Researchers found that one of the chief effects of drinking was to reduce people's ability to monitor their own behavior.
- 2
Intimate, friendly.
'You’re doing it because she was your friend, not because she was a parishioner, and certainly not because of the Declaratory Articles,' Macmurray said, pushing himself forward on his seat. 'Everybody knows how chief you and she were. It was an unfitting relationship for a minister while she was alive, and it is equally unfitting for you to do her a favour like this now she's dead.'
verb
- 1
slangTo smoke cannabis.
Forms
- plural
- chiefs
- comparative
- chiefer, more chief
- superlative
- chiefest, most chief
- past tense
- chiefed
- past participle
- chiefed
- present participle
- chiefing
- third person singular
- chiefs
chief · The leader or head of a tribe, organisation, business unit, or other group.
Chief · A township in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, United States.child · A person who has not yet reached adulthood, whether natural…Child · A surname.