Pronunciations (2)
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/t͡ʃiːf/
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tʃiːf
Noun
The leader or head of a tribe, organisation, business unit, or other group.
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More examples (1)
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.
Headship, the status of being a chief or leader.
Usage- Uncountable
- with "in"
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Bob is our troubleshooter in chief.
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.
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When the Chief is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "On a Chief".
More examples (1)
The shield was silver, charged with a red cross voided (that is, with the centre cut out and only the edges left), between in chief (that is, above the horizontal limb of the cross) two black dragon's wings, and in base two red daggers, and in the centre of the cross a black winged helmet; on a red chief (a broad band across the top of the shield), a silver pale (a broad vertical band), and thereon eight black arrows crossed X-wise, four and four, and encircled with a black band, between on the dexter three bendlets (narrow bands slanting from dexter chief to sinister base) enhanced (that is, raised above the centre), and on the sinister a fleur-de-lis, all of gold.
The principal part or top of anything.
An informal term of address.
Usage- Ironic
- sometimes
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“How old are you, chief?” the elevator guy said.
An informal term of address. An informal term of address for a Native American or First Nations man.
Usage- Ironic
- Offensive
- sometimes
Adjective
Primary; principal.
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Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.
More examples (1)
[…] But when we find that they [volcanoes] are but few in Number, and the chiefeſt of thoſe too near the torrid Zone, and from their Tops to iſſue forth, now clear Fire, then thick, black Smoke, and ſometimes little or nothing at all; we muſt conclude, that they are only particular Fires, probably of the Sun’s kindling at firſt, and ſince continued by the caſual and incidental Applications of that Pabulum, which thoſe Part of the Earth adminiſter to them.
Researchers found that one of the chief effects of drinking was to reduce people's ability to monitor their own behavior.
Intimate, friendly.
Usage- Scotland
- Examples
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More examples (1)
'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
To smoke cannabis.
Usage- Slang
Adjective
most important element
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the chief aim of living
the main doors were of solid glass
More examples (5)
the principal rivers of America
the principal example
policemen were primary targets
the master bedroom
a master switch
Noun
a person who is in charge
- Broader terms
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the head of the whole operation
a person who exercises control over workers
- Broader terms
- Examples
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if you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman
a head of a tribe or clan
- Synonyms
- Broader terms