staple
- staple
- 1.
n. & v.
—n. a U-shaped metal bar or piece of wire with pointed ends for driving into, securing, or fastening together various materials or for driving through and clenching papers, netting, electric wire, etc.
—v.tr. provide or fasten with a staple.
Phrases and idioms:
staple gun a hand-held device for driving in staples.
Derivatives:
stapler n.
Etymology: OE stapol f. Gmc
2.
n., adj., & v.
—n.
1 the principal or an important article of commerce (the staples of British Industry).
2 the chief element or a main component, e.g. of a diet.
3 a raw material.
4 the fibre of cotton or wool etc. as determining its quality (cotton of fine staple).
—adj.
1 main or principal (staple commodities).
2 important as a product or an export.
—v.tr. sort or classify (wool etc.) according to fibre.
Etymology: ME f. OF estaple market f. MLG, MDu. stapel market (as STAPLE(1))
Useful english dictionary.
2012.
:
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
