Staff
/stæf/
Definitions
4 meaningsA group of people employed to work for an organization or business.
/stæf/
A group of people employed by an organization.
The staff at the restaurant were very friendly and helpful.
💡 Simply: Imagine a team of people helping to run a school, hospital, or company. That whole team of people is the staff! They all work together to get things done.
👶 For kids: The staff are all the grown-ups who work at a place, like a school or a store.
More Examples
The company announced a reduction in staff due to the economic downturn.
The teaching staff at the university are renowned scholars.
How It's Used
"The hospital's nursing staff is highly skilled."
"The school faculty is meeting to discuss the new curriculum."
A stick used for support when walking or as a weapon.
/stæf/
A long, sturdy stick used for support or as a weapon.
The shepherd carried his staff while tending the sheep.
💡 Simply: Think of a long wooden stick you might use to help you walk, like if you were hiking. That's a staff!
👶 For kids: A staff is like a long stick that you can hold to help you walk or as a toy.
More Examples
The wizard used a staff to cast his spells.
She leaned heavily on her staff as she walked down the hill.
How It's Used
"The hiker used a staff to help them balance on the trail."
"The wizard carried a staff adorned with intricate carvings."
A set of five horizontal lines used in music notation to indicate the pitch of notes.
/stæf/
A set of five horizontal lines on which musical notes are written.
The composer wrote the melody on the staff.
💡 Simply: Imagine the lines where you draw the notes in music! That's the staff.
👶 For kids: The staff is like the lines where music notes sit in a song!
More Examples
The musician read the notes off the staff.
The staff is essential for understanding how music is written.
How It's Used
"The notes were placed on the staff to indicate their pitch."
To provide someone with staff or to add staff.
/stæf/
To provide (an organization, business, etc.) with personnel; to appoint personnel to a position or organization.
The new department will be staffed with highly skilled professionals.
💡 Simply: When a company *staffs* a new office, they're hiring all the people needed to work there.
👶 For kids: To staff means to find the people who will work at a place.
More Examples
They are looking to staff the customer service department.
The hotel is well-staffed to provide excellent service.
How It's Used
"The company staffed its new branch with experienced employees."
Synonyms
Crew
Employees
Faculty
Personnel
Cane
Pole
Rod
Lines
Appoint
Employ
Hire
Man
Idioms & expressions
staff meeting
A gathering of the staff of an organization to discuss matters of interest.
"There is a staff meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning."
on staff
Employed by an organization; part of the staff.
"She is on staff at the hospital."
From Old English *stæf* ('rod, staff, stick'), related to Old High German *stab* and Proto-Germanic *stabaz* ('staff, stick'). The word evolved to encompass various meanings including a group of people and a musical stave.
The word 'staff' has been used since Old English times to describe a stick or rod. The sense of 'a body of workers' developed later.
Memory tip
Think of the *staff* as the people who *support* the business.