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chief

   Also found in: Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.04 sec.
chief  (chf)
n.
1. One who is highest in rank or authority; a leader.
2.
a. A chief petty officer.
b. Nautical The chief engineer of a ship.
3. Slang A boss.
4. Heraldry The upper section of a shield.
5. The most important or valuable part.
adj.
1. Highest in rank, authority, or office.
2. Most important or influential. See Usage Note at absolute.
adv. Archaic
Chiefly.

[Middle English chef, from Old French, from Latin caput, head; see kaput- in Indo-European roots.]

chiefdom n.
chiefship n.
Synonyms: chief, principal, main, leading1, foremost, primary, prime
These adjectives refer to what is first in rank or in importance. Chief applies to a person of the highest authority: a chief magistrate.
Used figuratively, chief implies maximum importance or value: her chief joy.
Principal applies to someone or something of the first order in power or significance: their principal source of entertainment.
Main applies to what exceeds others in extent, size, or importance: the main building on the campus.
Leading suggests personal magnetism, a record of achievement, or capacity for influencing others: one of the leading physicians of the city.
Foremost emphasizes the sense of having forged ahead of others: the foremost research scientist of the day.
Primary stresses first in the sense of origin, sequence, or development: primary school.
It can also mean first in the sense of "fundamental": the primary function of this machine.
Prime applies to what is first in comparison with others and to what is of the best quality: a theory of prime significance; a prime Burgundy.

chief
Noun
1. the head of a group or body of people
2. the head of a tribe
Adjective
1. most important: the chief suspects
2. highest in rank: the Chief Constable [Latin caput head]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.chiefchief - a person who is in charge; "the head of the whole operation"
leader - a person who rules or guides or inspires others
administrator, executive - someone who manages a government agency or department
administrator, decision maker - someone who administers a business
capo - the head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate
department head - the head of a department
don, father - the head of an organized crime family
superior general, general - the head of a religious order or congregation
general manager - the highest ranking manager
grand dragon - a high ranking person in the Ku Klux Klan
head of household - the head of a household or family or tribe
secretary - a person who is head of an administrative department of government
2.chiefchief - a person who exercises control over workers; "if you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman"
baas - South African term for `boss'
ganger - the foreman of a work gang
assistant foreman, straw boss - a member of a work gang who supervises the other workers
supervisor - one who supervises or has charge and direction of
3.chiefchief - the head of a tribe or clan
leader - a person who rules or guides or inspires others
Indian chief, Indian chieftain - the leader of a group of Native Americans
pendragon - the supreme war chief of the ancient Britons
Adj.1.chiefchief - most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch"
important, of import - of great significance or value; "important people"; "the important questions of the day"

chief
noun 1. head, leader, director, manager, lord, boss (informal) captain, master, governor, commander, principal, superior, ruler, superintendent, chieftain, ringleader, baas S. African ariki N.Z. sherang Austral., N.Z. << OPPOSITE subordinate
Translations
Spanish chief [tʃiːf] njefe/a m/f
adjprincipal, esp máximo (LAM);
Chief of Staff (esp MIL) → Jefe m del Estado mayor

French chief [tʃiːf] nchef m
adjprincipal(e);
Chief of Staff (Mil) → chef d'État-major

German chief [tʃiːf] nHäuptling m;
(of organization, department) → Leiter(in) m(f), Chef(in) m(f)
adjHaupt-, wichtigste(r, s)

Italian chief [tʃiːf] ncapo
adjprincipale;
Chief of Staff (MIL) → Capo di Stato Maggiore

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Chief Inspector Heat of the Special Crimes Department changed his tone.
A CHIEF of Police who had seen an Officer beating a Thug was very indignant, and said he must not do so any more on pain of dismissal.
Every one kept away from him, even his Chief Steward Kaliko.
 
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