staple
- staple
- I
sta•ple
[[t]ˈsteɪ pəl[/t]]
n. v. -pled, -pling
1) a short piece of wire bent so as to bind together papers or the like by driving the ends through the sheets and clinching them on the other side
2) bui a similar, oftenU-shaped piece of wire or metal with pointed ends for driving into a surface to hold a hasp, hook, pin, etc
3) to secure or fasten by a staple or staples
•
Etymology:
bef. 900; ME stapel orig., support, post, OE stapol, c. OHG staffal foundation, ON stǫpull pillar
II
sta•ple
[[t]ˈsteɪ pəl[/t]]
n. adj. v. -pled, -pling
1) bus a principal raw material or commodity grown or manufactured in a locality
2) a basic or necessary item of food:
flour, salt, and other staples[/ex]
3) a basic or principal item, feature, element, or part
4) tex the fiber of wool, cotton, flax, rayon, etc., considered with reference to length and fineness
5) tex a standard length of textile fibers, representing the average of such fibers taken collectively:
long-staple cotton[/ex]
6) why (in medieval Europe) a town in which a body of merchants had the exclusive right to purchase certain goods for export
7) chief or prominent among the products exported or produced by a country or district
8) basic, chief, or principal:
staple industries[/ex]
9) principally used:
staple courses[/ex]
10) tex to sort or classify according to the staple or fiber, as wool
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Etymology:
1375–1425; place where merchants have trading rights < MD stapel; akin to staple I
From formal English to slang.
2014.
:
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
