Staff

[stɑːf] or [stæf]

Definition

(noun.) a strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose; 'he walked with the help of a wooden staff'.

(noun.) (music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written.

(noun.) a rod carried as a symbol.

(noun.) the body of teachers and administrators at a school; 'the dean addressed the letter to the entire staff of the university'.

(noun.) personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task; 'the hospital has an excellent nursing staff'; 'the general relied on his staff to make routine decisions'.

(noun.) building material consisting of plaster and hair; used to cover external surfaces of temporary structure (as at an exposition) or for decoration.

(verb.) provide with staff; 'This position is not always staffed'.

(verb.) serve on the staff of; 'The two men staff the reception desk'.

Checked by Elton--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) A long piece of wood; a stick; the long handle of an instrument or weapon; a pole or srick, used for many purposes; as, a surveyor's staff; the staff of a spear or pike.

(n.) A stick carried in the hand for support or defense by a person walking; hence, a support; that which props or upholds.

(n.) A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office; as, a constable's staff.

(n.) A pole upon which a flag is supported and displayed.

(n.) The round of a ladder.

(n.) A series of verses so disposed that, when it is concluded, the same order begins again; a stanza; a stave.

(n.) The five lines and the spaces on which music is written; -- formerly called stave.

(n.) An arbor, as of a wheel or a pinion of a watch.

(n.) The grooved director for the gorget, or knife, used in cutting for stone in the bladder.

(n.) An establishment of officers in various departments attached to an army, to a section of an army, or to the commander of an army. The general's staff consists of those officers about his person who are employed in carrying his commands into execution. See Etat Major.

(n.) Hence: A body of assistants serving to carry into effect the plans of a superintendant or manager; as, the staff of a newspaper.

Typed by Arthur

Synonyms and Synonymous

n. [1]. Cane, stick, pole, rod, partisan, truncheon.[2]. Support, prop, stay.[3]. État major, staff, staff-officers, commissioned officers.[4]. Stanza, verse, stave.

Editor: Simon

Definition

n. a stick carried for support or defence: a prop: a long piece of wood: pole: a flagstaff: the long handle of an instrument: a stick or ensign of authority: the five lines and spaces on which music is written: a stanza (the previous meanings have pl. Staffs or Staves stāvz): a body of skilled officers whose duty it is under orders from the commanding officers of various grades to arrange the movements and supply of the various bodies which go to make up an army: a similar body of persons in any undertaking acting under a manager or chief (the last two meanings have pl. Staffs stafs).—ns. Staff′-captain the senior grade in the navigating branch in the British navy; Staff′-coll′ege a college where military officers are trained in the higher branches of professional knowledge and prepared for holding staff-appointments; Staff′-corps a body of intelligent officers and men who performed engineering and siege duties made reconnaissances &c. during the wars of Wellington; (Indian) a body of British officers serving on the permanent Indian establishment appointed from it to do duty with native regiments &c.; Staff′-dū′ty the occupation of an officer who serves on a staff having been detached from his regiment; Staff′-notā′tion musical notation in which a staff is used as opposed to the tonic-solfa system; Staff′-sur′geon a navy surgeon of senior grade; Staff′-sys′tem a block-system in use on single-line railways in which the station-master gives the engine-driver a staff authorising him to proceed over a given portion.

Editor: Rudolf