B2 [C] a long, usually hard seat for two or more people, often found in public places, or a long table for working on:

F0 a seat or area of seats where players sit during a game when they are not playing:

F0 the judge or magistrate in a law court, or the place where he or she sits:

F0 to work as a judge or magistrate

F0 to become a judge or magistrate

F0 If a judge takes the bench, he or she begins a formal meeting of a law court.

F0 in the UK parliament building, the seats used by the members: