WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ca•the•dra
(kə thē′drə, kath′i-),USA pronunciation n., pl. -drae
-
(-drē, -drē′).USA pronunciation
- Religionthe seat or throne of a bishop in the principal church of a diocese.
- an official chair, as of a professor in a university.
- an ancient Roman chair used by women, having an inclined, curved back and curved legs flaring outward: the Roman copy of the Greek klismos.
- Greek kathédra, derivative of kathézomai to sit down; see cat-, sit; compare chair
- Latin
- 1625–35
'cathedra' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):