Chief

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tʃiːf/
• Rhymes: -iːf

Origin

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).

Full definition of chief

Noun

1. (leader of group etc)A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc. from 13th c.
• 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 4:My father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief by both blood and custom.
2. (heraldiccharge) The top part of a shield or escutcheon. from 15th c.
• 1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry:When the Chief is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "On a Chief".
3. (head of an organization)A head officer in a department, organization etc.; a boss. from 17th c.All firefighters report to the fire chief.
4. An informal address to an equal.Hey, chief.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

• captain
• chef
• chieftain

Adjective

1. Primary; principal.Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.

Anagrams

• fiche