Meaning
teacher's desk, chair, professorship
- teacher's desk
- chair, professorship (university)
- cathedra, bishop's throne
In a sentence
Il professore ha lasciato i libri sulla cattedra.
The teacher left the books on the desk.
Ha ottenuto una cattedra di storia all'università.
She obtained a history chair at the university.
Non mettere lo zaino dietro la cattedra.
Don't put your backpack behind the teacher's desk.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| cattedra | feminine · singular |
| cattedre | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- For a school teacher’s desk, use cattedra, not scrivania. Scrivania is a general desk, often in an office or home.
- In universities, cattedra often means a professorship or academic chair, not a physical seat. Context usually makes this clear.
- Don’t confuse cattedra with sedia. Sedia is an ordinary chair; cattedra is specialized and more formal.