Webster's English Dictionary

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bench

1. bench \'bench\ n [ME, fr. OE benc; akin to OHG bank bench] 1a: a long 
   seat for two or more persons  1b: a thwart in a boat  1c: a seat on which 
   the members of an athletic team await a turn or opportu nity to play 2a: 
   the seat where a judge sits in court  2b: the office or dignity of a judge  
   2c: the place where justice is administered : COURT  2d: the persons who 
   sit as judges  3a: a seat for an official  3b: the office or dignity of 
   such an official  3c: the officials occupying such a bench  4a: a long 
   worktable  4b: a table forming part of a machine  5: TERRACE, SHELF; esp : 
   a former shore of a sea or lak e or floodplain of a river 6a: a platform on 
   which a dog is placed at a dog show  6b: a dog show 
2. bench vt 1: to furnish with benches  2a: to seat on a bench  2b: to 
   remove from or keep out of a game  3: to exhibit (dogs) on a bench  : to 
   form a bench by natural processes