bench

Universal Words noun 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