What (who) is chief - definition

WIKIMEDIA DISAMBIGUATION PAGE

Chiefs; The Chiefs; The Chief; Chief (disambiguation); CHIEF; Chiefess; Cheif; Chief (nickname); The Chief (newspaper)

chief

¦ noun

1. a leader or ruler of a people.

the head of an organization.

2. Heraldry an ordinary consisting of a broad horizontal band across the top of the shield.

the upper third of the field.

¦ adjective

1. having the highest rank or authority.

2. most important: the chief reason.

Derivatives

chiefdom noun

Origin

ME: from OFr. chief, chef, based on L. caput 'head'.

chief

(chiefs)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

The chief of an organization is the person who is in charge of it.

...a commission appointed by the police chief.

...Putin's chief of security.

N-COUNT: with supp

The chief of a tribe is its leader.

...Sitting Bull, chief of the Sioux tribes of the Great Plains.

N-COUNT; N-TITLE

Chief is used in the job titles of the most senior worker or workers of a particular kind in an organization.

...the chief test pilot.

= head

ADJ: ADJ n

The chief cause, part, or member of something is the most important one.

Financial stress is well established as a chief reason for divorce...

The job went to one of his chief rivals.

= main, principal

ADJ: ADJ n

Chief

·adj Very intimate, near, or close.

II. Chief ·adj Highest in office or rank; principal; head.

III. Chief ·noun The principal part; the most valuable portion.

IV. Chief ·noun The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs.

V. Chief ·adj Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of man.

VI. Chief ·noun The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who directs the work of others; the principal actor or agent.