CHIEF

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does chief mean? 

• CHIEF (noun)
  The noun CHIEF has 3 senses:

1. a person who is in charge

2. a person who exercises control over workers

3. the head of a tribe or clan

  Familiarity information: CHIEF used as a noun is uncommon.

• CHIEF (adjective)
  The adjective CHIEF has 1 sense:

1. most important element

  Familiarity information: CHIEF used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHIEF (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who is in charge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

chief; head; top dog

Context example:

the head of the whole operation

Hypernyms ("chief" is a kind of...):

leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chief"):

general; superior general (the head of a religious order or congregation)

secretary (a person who is head of an administrative department of government)

head of household (the head of a household or family or tribe)

grand dragon (a high ranking person in the Ku Klux Klan)

general manager (the highest ranking manager)

don; father (the head of an organized crime family)

department head (the head of a department)

capo (the head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate)

administrator; decision maker (someone who administers a business)

administrator; executive (someone who manages a government agency or department)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A person who exercises control over workers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

boss; chief; foreman; gaffer; honcho

Context example:

if you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman

Hypernyms ("chief" is a kind of...):

supervisor (one who supervises or has charge and direction of)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chief"):

ganger (the foreman of a work gang)

assistant foreman; straw boss (a member of a work gang who supervises the other workers)

baas (South African term for 'boss')

Sense 3

Meaning:

The head of a tribe or clan

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

chief; chieftain; headman; tribal chief

Hypernyms ("chief" is a kind of...):

leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chief"):

Indian chief; Indian chieftain (the leader of a group of Native Americans)

pendragon (the supreme war chief of the ancient Britons)

Instance hyponyms:

Glendower; Owen Glendower (Welsh chieftain who led a revolt against Henry IV's rule in Wales (1359-1416))

Hrolf; Rolf; Rollo (Norse chieftain who became the first duke of Normandy (860-931))

• CHIEF (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Most important element

Synonyms:

chief; main; master; primary; principal

Context example:

a master switch

Similar:

important; of import (of great significance or value)

 Context examples 

"I go now to make talk with the chiefs, so that they may know I am gone to show the Russians the way."

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

It was at this time that he was sought out by Professor Moriarty, to whom for a time he was chief of the staff.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But his chief trouble was that he did not know any editors or writers.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The chief cause is the long-term contraction of the Yakutat Ice Field, which has been shrinking since the height of the Little Ice Age.

(Retreat of Yakutat Glacier, NASA)

According to expedition co-chief scientist Gerald Dickens of Rice University in the U.S., significant new fossil discoveries were made.

(Scientists return from expedition to lost continent of Zealandia, National Science Foundation)

When the time came for the war to begin, the willow-wren sent out spies to discover who was the enemy’s commander-in-chief.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I answered “they were innumerable; but I should only mention a few of the chief.”

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

You are well-rounded, a blue-stocking fit to be the wife of a pirate chief.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He sprang at the foremost man (it was the chief of the Yeehats), ripping the throat wide open till the rent jugular spouted a fountain of blood.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Aunt Dodo was chief playmate and confidante of both children, and the trio turned the little house topsy-turvy.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)