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n. 1. a. Something, such as a chair or bench, that may be sat on: There are comfortable seats in the waiting room. b. The part on which one rests in sitting: the seat of a chair; a bicycle seat. 2. a. A place in which one may sit: found a seat on the floor. b. The right to occupy such a place or a ticket indicating this right: got seats for the concert. 3. a. The buttocks. b. The part of a garment that covers the buttocks. 4. a. A part serving as the base of something else. b. The surface or part on which another part sits or rests. 5. a. The place where something is located or based: The heart is the seat of the emotions. b. A center of authority; a capital: the county seat. 6. A place of abode or residence, especially a large house that is part of an estate: the squire's country seat. 7. Membership in an organization, such as a legislative body or stock exchange, that is obtained by appointment, election, or purchase. 8. The manner of sitting on a horse: a rider with a good seat. v. seat·ed, seat·ing, seats v.tr. 1. a. To place in or on a seat. b. To cause or assist to sit down: The ushers will seat the members of the bride's family. 2. To provide with a particular seat: The usher seated me in the back row. 3. To have or provide seats for: We can seat 300 in the auditorium. 4. To install in a position of authority or eminence. 5. To fix firmly in place: seat an ammunition clip in an automatic rifle. v.intr. Idiom: To rest on or fit into another part: The O-rings had not seated correctly in their grooves. by the seat of (one's) pants Informal 1. In a manner based on intuition and experience rather than method: He ran the business by the seat of his pants. 2. Without the use of instruments: an inexperienced pilot who had to fly the aircraft by the seat of her pants. [Middle English sete, probably from Old Norse sæti; see sed- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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