chief

chief noun boss, captain, caput, chairman, chief controller, chieftain, commandant, commander, directing head, director, dux, employer, foreman, general, head, headman, headperson, highest ranking person, leader, manager, organizer, overlooker, overseer, person in authority, person in charge, president, princeps, principal, principal person, senior, superior, supervising director
Associated concepts: chief agent, chief counsel, chief deputy, chief examiner, chief executive, chief executive officer, chief fiscal officer, chief judge, chief justice, chief of fire department, chief of police, chief officer of a corporation or business, chief place of business

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See also: absolute, basic, best, cardinal, central, critical, crucial, director, dominant, employer, essential, grave, important, leading, major, master, necessary, outstanding, paramount, prevailing, prevalent, primary, prime, principal, prominent, salient, sovereign, stellar, superintendent, superior, superlative, vital

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CHIEF, principal. One who is put above the rest; as, chief magistrate chief justice : it also signifies the best of a number of things. It is frequently used in composition.