staff

¹staff

noun \ˈstaf\

plural staffs\ˈstafs, ˈstavz\ or staves\ˈstavz, ˈstāvz\

Definition of STAFF

1

a : a long stick carried in the hand for support in walking b : a supporting rod: as (1) archaic : shaft 1a(1) (2) : a crosspiece in a ladder or chair : rung (3) : flagstaff (4) : a pivoted arbor c : club, cudgel

2

a : crosier b : a rod carried as a symbol of office or authority

3

: the horizontal lines with their spaces on which music is written —called also stave

4

: any of various graduated sticks or rules used for measuring : rod

5

plural staffs a : the officers chiefly responsible for the internal operations of an institution or business b : a group of officers appointed to assist a civil executive or commanding officer c : military or naval officers not eligible for operational command d : the personnel who assist a director in carrying out an assigned task e plural staff : a member of a staff <employs three full-time staff>

— staff adjective

Examples of STAFF

1. The entire staff has done a great job this year.
2. The staff is at a meeting.
3. She's a new member of the staff.
4. The general's staff is planning the army's next move.

Origin of STAFF

Middle English staf, from Old English stæf; akin to Old High German stab staff, Sanskrit stabhnāti he supports

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to STAFF

Synonyms: help, labor force, manpower, personnel, pool, force, workforce

Related Words: labor, proletariat, rank and file; band, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, squad, team; employee (also employe), helper, hireling, worker; blood; support

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with STAFF

caff, calf, chaff, daff, gaff, gaffe, graph, half, laugh, quaff, raff, sclaff, staph, Waf, waff