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flat bench

flat bench

1 3.1
A strong, flat surface you lie on to lift weights
  • noun
translation icon : banco plano
  • So for example, I'll never do flat bench or or decline bench.
  • flat bench dumbbell
  • flat bench press
  • flat-bench fly

Maybe a a close grip flat bench, different part of the chest and triceps.

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Examples

  • Maybe a a close grip flat bench, different part of the chest and triceps.

  • You should place your hands firmly on the bar while lying on a flat bench during your workout.

  • Maybe a a close grip flat bench, different part of the chest and triceps.

  • This task consisted of the subject lying in a supine position on a standard Olympic flat bench.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Triceps bench dips: Start with your back perpendicular to a flat bench.

    Blog text (32)
  • It is situated on a relatively flat bench a few feet above the water level that would protect the town from rising water levels—either tides or river floods—and has sufficient water depth to allow boats and ships to come up the river to the town.

    Academic text (1994)
  • To perform the exercise correctly, lie on your back on a flat bench with your feet on the floor.

  • For a safer experience, make sure to keep your back straight while lifting weights on a flat bench.

How Inclined

decline
7 3.5
incline bench press
  • Specialized
5.5
flat bench
1 3.1

Surface Forms

flat bench singular
flat benches plural

Morphology

flat + bench

The meaning is directly compositional: 'flat' (having a level, even surface) modifies 'bench' (a long seat or work surface), so a B1 learner who knows both words will infer a bench with a flat surface. Although the collocation is often used in gym contexts for weightlifting, the core descriptive meaning is transparent and follows regular adjective+noun composition.

Etymology

Flat bench comes from the simple picture of a bench that is completely flat and level. Early gym users would 'lie' on that level bench to do the 'bench press', so the name now means the sturdy, horizontal bench used for weightlifting and other exercises.