chief

1 /tSi:f/ adjective

1 most important; main: One of the chief causes of crime today is drugs. | the prosecution's chief witness

-see also: chiefly

2 highest in rank: the chief accountant | the chief political correspondent of the Washington Post

3 chief cook and bottle washer humorous someone in charge of an event, especially someone who must do a lot of small unimportant jobs to make sure it is a success: "Is there any more wine?" "Ask my husband, he's chief cook and bottle washer today!"

2 noun (C)

1 RULER OF TRIBE a ruler of a tribe: an American Indian tribal chief

2 SB IN CHARGE OF AN ORGANIZATION the most important person in a company or organization: the chief of Austria's army intelligence | Industry chiefs yesterday demanded tough measures against inflation.

3 the chief informal the person in charge of the company or organization you work for: The chief wants to see you right away.

4 big/great white chief humorous the person in charge of a group of people, company, organization etc

5 too many chiefs and not enough Indians used to say there are too many people saying how something should be done and not enough people doing it

6 MAN BrE old-fashioned used to speak in a friendly way to a man you think is more important that you