- 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: chiefly2 highest in rank: the chief accountant | the chief political correspondent of the Washington Post3 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 chief2 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 etc5 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 it6 MAN BrE old-fashioned used to speak in a friendly way to a man you think is more important that you
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.