Cathedra vs. Chair — What's the Difference?

A cathedra is the raised throne of a bishop in the early Christian basilica. When used with this meaning, it may also be called the bishop's throne.

One of the basic pieces of furniture, a chair is a type of seat. Its primary features are two pieces of a durable material, attached as back and seat to one another at a 90° or slightly greater angle, with usually the four corners of the horizontal seat attached in turn to four legs—or other parts of the seat's underside attached to three legs or to a shaft about which a four-arm turnstile on rollers can turn—strong enough to support the weight of a person who sits on the seat (usually wide and broad enough to hold the lower body from the buttocks almost to the knees) and leans against the vertical back (usually high and wide enough to support the back to the shoulder blades).

A bishop's official chair or throne.

A piece of furniture designed to accommodate one sitting or reclining person, providing support for the back and often the arms and typically standing on four legs.

The office or see of a bishop.

A seat of office, authority, or dignity, such as that of a bishop.

The official chair of an office or a position, as of a professor.

An office or position of authority, such as a professorship.

The chair or throne of a bishop.

A person who holds an office or a position of authority, such as one who presides over a meeting or administers a department of instruction at a college; a chairperson.

The rank of bishop.

The position of a player in an orchestra.

The official chair of some position or office, as of a professor.

(Slang) The electric chair.

The official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in high authority.

A seat carried about on poles; a sedan chair.

A throne that is the official chair of a bishop

Any of several devices that serve to support or secure, such as a metal block that supports and holds railroad track in position.

To preside over as chairperson

To install (someone) in a position of authority, especially as a presiding officer.

To carry (someone) high off the ground in a chair or in a seated position, especially as a tribute.

An item of furniture used to sit on or in, comprising a seat, legs or wheels, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person. Compare stool, couch, sofa, settee, loveseat and bench.

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(music) The seating position of a particular musician in an orchestra.

(rail transport) An iron block used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers, and similar devices.

(chemistry) One of two possible conformers of cyclohexane rings (the other being boat), shaped roughly like a chair.

Ellipsis of electric chair

(education) A distinguished professorship at a university.

A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or a two-wheeled carriage drawn by one horse; a gig.

The seat or office of a person in authority, such as a judge or bishop.

(transitive) To act as chairperson at; to preside over.

(transitive) To carry in a seated position upon one's shoulders, especially in celebration or victory.

To award a chair to (a winning poet) at a Welsh eisteddfod.

A movable single seat with a back.

An official seat, as of a chief magistrate or a judge, but esp. that of a professor; hence, the office itself.

The presiding officer of an assembly; a chairman; as, to address the chair.

A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig.

An iron block used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers.

To place in a chair.

To carry publicly in a chair in triumph.

To function as chairperson of (a meeting, committee, etc.); as, he chaired the meeting.

A seat for one person, with a support for the back;

The position of professor;

The officer who presides at the meetings of an organization;

An instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles a chair;

Act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university;

Preside over;