1 [C] a long seat for two or more people, usually made of wood:
a park bench
2 (the bench) [sing.] (law) a judge in a court of law or the seat where he/she sits; the position of being a judge or MAGISTRATE:
His lawyer turned to address the bench. * She has recently been appointed to the bench.
3 [C, often pl.] (in the British Parliament) a seat where a particular group of politicians sit:
There was cheering from the Opposition benches.
seealsoBACKBENCH, THEFRONTBENCH
4 (the bench) [sing.] (sport) the seats where players sit when they are not playing in the game:
the substitutes' bench * He started the game on the bench but finished as the team's top scorer.
5 [C] = WORKBENCH:
a carpenter's bench
