1. Most important element
   "the chief aim of living";
   - main, primary, principal, master

1. A person who is in charge
   "the chief of the whole operation";
   - head, top dog [informal]
    
2. A person who exercises control over workers
   "if you want to leave early you have to ask the chief";
   - foreman, gaffer [Brit, informal], honcho [N. Amer, informal], boss
    
3. A head of a tribe or clan
   "The tribal chief led the annual harvest ceremony";
   - tribal chief, chieftain

Derived forms: chiefer, chiefest, chiefs

See also: important, of import

Type of: leader, overlooker, supervisor

Encyclopedia: Chief, IRS-CI