Chief Definition
chēf
chiefs, chiefest
noun
chiefs
The head or leader of a group, organization, etc.; person of highest title or authority.
Webster's New World
The most valuable or main part of anything.
Webster's New World
A chief engineer or chief petty officer.
Webster's New World
The chief engineer of a ship.
American Heritage
The upper third of a shield.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
adjective
chiefest
Highest, as in rank or office; foremost.
The chief magistrate.
Webster's New World
Most important or significant; main; principal.
The chief advantages.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
adverb
Chiefly.
Webster's New World
idiom
in chief
- in the chief position; of highest title or authority
editor in chief
- chiefly
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Chief
Noun
Singular:
chief
Plural:
chiefsAdjective
Base Form:
chief
Superlative:
chiefestIdioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Chief
Origin of Chief
-
From Middle English, from Old French chief (“leader”), from Late Latin capum (“head”) (from which also captain, chieftain), from Latin caput (“head”) (English cap (“head covering”)), from Proto-Indo-European *kauput- (English head).
From Wiktionary
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Middle English chef from Old French from Latin caput head kaput- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Chief Is Also Mentioned In
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