staple
- staple
sta|ple1 [ˈsteıpəl] n
[Sense: 1-2; Origin: Old English stapol 'post']
[Sense: 3-4; Date: 1300-1400; Origin: . Middle Dutch stapel 'place of trade']
1.) a small piece of thin wire that is pushed into sheets of paper and bent over to hold them together
2.) a small U-shaped piece of metal with pointed ends, used to hold something in place
3.) a food that is needed and used all the time
▪ staples like flour and rice
4.) the main product that is produced in a country
▪ Bananas and sugar are the staples of Jamaica.
staple 2
staple2 v [T]
to fasten two or more things together with a staple
staple sth together
▪ The handouts are all stapled together.
staple sth to sth
▪ I stapled the order form to the invoice.
staple 3
staple3 adj [only before noun]
1.) forming the greatest or most important part of something
▪ Oil is Nigeria's staple export.
▪ a staple ingredient of comedy
2.) staple diet
a) the food that you normally eat
staple diet of
▪ They live on a staple diet of rice and vegetables.
b) something that is always being produced, seen, bought etc
staple diet of
▪ television's staple diet of soap operas and quiz shows
3.) used all the time
▪ Marty's staple excuses
Dictionary of contemporary English.
2013.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
Staple — may mean:*Staple (fastener), a formed metal fastener used to secure sheets of material or wires, so they will not fall apart of each other. *Staple food, a foodstuff that forms the basic constituent of a diet. It is a standard commodity rather… … Wikipedia
Staple — Sta ple (st[=a] p l), n. [AS. stapul, stapol, stapel, a step, a prop, post, table, fr. stapan to step, go, raise; akin to D. stapel a pile, stocks, emporium, G. stapela heap, mart, stake, staffel step of a ladder, Sw. stapel, Dan. stabel, and E.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
staple — Ⅰ. staple [1] ► NOUN 1) a small flattened U shaped piece of wire used to fasten papers together. 2) a small U shaped metal bar with pointed ends for driving into wood to hold things in place. ► VERB ▪ secure with a staple or staples. ORIGIN Old… … English terms dictionary
staple — sta ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {stapled} ( p ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {stapling}.] 1. To sort according to its staple; as, to staple cotton. [1913 Webster] 2. To fasten together with a staple[9] or staples; as, to staple a check to a letter. [PJC] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Staple — Sta ple, a. 1. Pertaining to, or being a market or staple for, commodities; as, a staple town. [R.] [1913 Webster] 2. Established in commerce; occupying the markets; settled; as, a staple trade. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 3. Fit to be sold;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
STAPLE! — The Independent Media Expo is an annual convention in Austin, Texas, United States, for alternative comics, minicomics, webcomics, zines, underground comics, and graphic arts. Chris Nicholas founded the conference as a gathering place for… … Wikipedia
staple — staple1 [stā′pəl] n. [ME stapel < OFr estaple < MDu stapel, mart, emporium, post, orig. support, akin to STAPLE2] 1. the chief commodity, or any of the most important commodities, made, grown, or sold in a particular place, region, country … English World dictionary
Staple — Stapel País … Wikipedia Español
staple — index item, stock in trade Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
staple n — staple diet … English expressions
staple — [adj] necessary, basic chief, essential, fundamental, important, in demand, key, main, popular, predominant, primary, principal, standard; concept 546 Ant. auxiliary, extra, minor, secondary, unnecessary … New thesaurus
