A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length. [1913 Webster]
"Mossy benches supplied the place of chairs." [1913 Webster]
A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's bench. [1913 Webster]
The seat where judges sit in court. [1913 Webster]
"To pluck down justice from your awful bench." [1913 Webster]
The persons who sit as judges; the court; as, the opinion of the full bench. See King's Bench. [1913 Webster]
A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public; -- so named because the animals are usually placed on benches or raised platforms. [1913 Webster]
A conformation like a bench; a long stretch of flat ground, or a kind of natural terrace, near a lake or river. [1913 Webster]

Bench mark (Leveling), one of a number of marks along a line of survey, affixed to permanent objects, to show where leveling staffs were placed. See bench mark in the vocabulary. -- Bench of bishops, the whole body of English prelates assembled in council. -- Bench plane, any plane used by carpenters and joiners for working a flat surface, as jack planes, long planes. -- Bench show, an exhibition of dogs. -- Bench table (Arch.), a projecting course at the base of a building, or round a pillar, sufficient to form a seat.

bench, v. t.

To furnish with benches. [1913 Webster]
"'T was benched with turf." [1913 Webster]

"Stately theaters benched crescentwise." [1913 Webster]
To place on a bench or seat of honor. [1913 Webster]
"Whom I . . . have benched and reared to worship." [1913 Webster]

bench, v. i.

To sit on a seat of justice. Shak. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

bench, n. & v.
--n.
1 a long seat of wood or stone for seating several people.
2 a working-table, e.g. for a carpenter, mechanic, or scientist.
3 (prec. by the) a the office of judge or magistrate. b a judge's seat in a lawcourt. c a lawcourt. d judges and magistrates collectively.
4 (often in pl.) Sport an area to the side of a pitch, with seating where coaches and players not taking part can watch the game.
5 Brit. Parl. a seat appropriated as specified (front bench).
6 a level ledge in masonry or an earthwork, on a hill-slope, etc.
--v.tr.
1 exhibit (a dog) at a show.
2 Sport US withdraw (a player) from the pitch to the benches.

Idiom

bench test esp. Computing n. a test made by benchmarking.
--v.tr. run a series of tests on (a computer etc.) before its use. King's (or Queen's) Bench (in the UK) a division of the High Court of Justice. on the bench appointed a judge or magistrate.

Etymology

OE benc f. Gmc

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THESAURUS

bench

British Cabinet, Sanhedrin, US Cabinet, advisory body, agency, ambo, assembly, association, atelier, bar, barbershop, beauty parlor, beauty shop, board, body of advisers, borough council, brain trust, buffet, butcher shop, cabinet, camarilla, chair, chamber, city council, common council, company, concern, conference, congress, consultative assembly, corporation, council, council fire, council of ministers, council of state, council of war, counter, county council, court, curule chair, dais, deliberative assembly, desk, diet, directory, divan, escritoire, establishment, facility, firm, helm, house, installation, institution, judgment seat, junta, kitchen cabinet, lectern, legislature, loft, mercy seat, mesa, organization, parish council, parlor, plateau, privy council, saddle, seat, seat of justice, seat of power, seat of state, secretaire, secretary, shop, soviet, staff, stand, studio, sweatshop, syndicate, synod, table, table mountain, tableland, tribunal, woolsack, work site, work space, workbench, workhouse, working space, workplace, workroom, workshop, worktable, writing table

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ROGET THESAURUS

bench

Council

N council, committee, subcommittee, comitia, court, chamber, cabinet, board, bench, staff, senate, senatus, parliament, chamber of deputies, directory, reichsrath, rigsdag, cortes, storthing, witenagemote, junta, divan, musnud, sanhedrim, classis, Amphictyonic council, duma, house of representatives, legislative assembly, legislative council, riksdag, volksraad, witan, caput, consistory, chapter, syndicate, court of appeal, board of control, board of works, vestry, county council, local board, audience chamber, council chamber, state chamber, cabinet council, privy council, cockpit, convocation, synod, congress, convention, diet, states-general, assembly, caucus, conclave, clique, conventicle, meeting, sitting, seance, conference, convention, exhibition, session, palaver, pourparler, durbar, house, quorum, council fire, powwow, primary, meeting, assemblage, member, senator, member of parliament, M, P, councilor, representative of the people, assemblyman, congressman, councilman, councilwoman, alderman, freeholder, senatorial, curule, congressional, parliamentary, legislative, law-making, regulatory, deliberative.

Tribunal

N tribunal, court, board, bench, judicatory, court of justice, court of law, court of arbitration, administrative court, inquisition, guild, justice seat, judgment seat, mercy seat, woolsack, bar of justice, dock, forum, hustings, bureau, drumhead, jury box, witness box, senate house, town hall, theater, House of Commons, House of Lords, statehouse, townhouse, assize, eyre, wardmote, burghmote, barmote, superior courts of Westminster, court of record, court oyer and terminer, court assize, court of appeal, court of error, High court of Judicature, High court of Appeal, Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Star Chamber, Court of Chancery, Court of King's or Queen's Bench, Court of Exchequer, Court of Common Pleas, Court of Probate, Court of Arches, Court of Admiralty, Lords Justices' court, Rolls court, Vice Chancellor's court, Stannary court, Divorce court, Family court, Palatine court, county court, district court, police court, sessions, quarter sessions, petty sessions, court-leet, court-baron, court of pie poudre, court of common council, board of green cloth, court martial, drumhead court martial, durbar, divan, Areopagus, Irota, judicial, appellate, die Weltgeschichte ist das Weltgericht.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle, support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

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