bentʃ 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. øbench 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. [OE benc f. Gmc]