Noun

(en noun)

An owner.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist), author=Lexington

, title= Keeping the mighty honest , passage=The [Washington] Post's proprietor through those turbulent [Watergate] days, Katharine Graham, held a double place in Washington’s hierarchy: at once regal Georgetown hostess and scrappy newshound, ready to hold the establishment to account. That is a very American position. British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins.}}

A sole owner of an unincorporated business, also called a sole proprietor.

One of the owners of an unincorporated business, a partner.

(history) One or more persons to whom a colonial territory is assigned, like a fief, including its administration.

Noun

(en noun)

(senseid)A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc.

* 1994 , Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom , Abacus 2010, p. 4:

My father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief by both blood and custom.

(heraldiccharge) The top part of a shield or escutcheon.

* 1889 , Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry :

When the Chief' is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "''On a '''Chief ".

(senseid)A head officer in a department, organization etc.; a boss.

All firefighters report to the fire chief .

An informal address to an equal.

Hey, chief.