a long seat for several persons

a bench in the park.

a seat occupied by an official, esp. a judge.

such a seat as a symbol of the office and dignity of an individual judge or the judiciary.

the office or dignity of various other officials, or the officials themselves.

Sports .

the seat on which the players of a team sit during a game while not playing.

thequality and number of the players of a team who are usually used as substitutes

A weak bench hurt their chances for the championship.

Informal . bench press.

Also called workbench. the strong worktable of a carpenter or other mechanic.

a platform on which animals are placed for exhibition, esp. at a dog show.

a contest or exhibition of dogs; dog show.

Physical Geography . a shelflike area of rock with steep slopes above and below.

Mining . a step or working elevation in a mine.

berm ( def. 2 ) .

to furnish with benches.

to seat on a bench or on the bench

an election that benched him in the district court.

to place (a show dog or other animal) in exhibition.

to cut away the working faces of (a mine or quarry) in benches.

Sports . to remove from a game or keep from participating in a game

to be benched because of poor hitting.

on the bench

serving as a judge in a court of law; presiding.

Sports . (of a player) not participating in play, either for part or all of a game.

noun

bank , chair , form , lawn seat , pew , seat , settee , settle , stall , board , counter , desk , easel , ledge , shelf , trestle , workbench , work table , court , courtroom , judiciary , magistrate , the bar , tribunal , your honors , bar , discard , sideline , stool