Lexic.us

Definition of Staff

1. Noun. Personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task. "The general relied on his staff to make routine decisions"

2. Verb. Provide with staff. "This position is not always staffed"

3. Noun. A strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose. "He walked with the help of a wooden staff"

4. Verb. Serve on the staff of. "The two men staff the reception desk"

5. Noun. The body of teachers and administrators at a school. "The dean addressed the letter to the entire staff of the university"

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

7. Noun. A rod carried as a symbol.

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

Definition of Staff

1. 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.

2. n. Plaster combined with fibrous and other materials so as to be suitable for sculpture in relief or in the round, or for forming flat plates or boards of considerable size which can be nailed to framework to make the exterior of a larger structure, forming joints which may afterward be repaired and concealed with fresh plaster.

Definition of Staff

1. Noun. (context: plural staffs or staves) a long, straight stick, especially one used to assist in walking. ¹

2. Noun. (music plural staves) A series of horizontal lines on which musical notes are written. ¹

3. Noun. (context: plural staff) The employees of a business. ¹

4. Noun. A mixture of plaster and fibre used as a temporary exterior wall covering (see Wikipedia article) ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) to supply (a business) with employees ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Staff

1. to provide with a staff (a body of assistants) [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Staff

1. 1. 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. "And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar to bear it withal." (Ex. Xxxviii. 7) "With forks and staves the felon to pursue." (Dryden) 2. A stick carried in the hand for support or defense by a person walking; hence, a support; that which props or upholds. "Hooked staves." "The boy was the very staff of my age." (Shak) "He spoke of it [beer] in "The Earnest Cry," and likewise in the "Scotch Drink," as one of the staffs of life which had been struck from the poor man's hand." (Prof. Wilson) 3. A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office; as, a constable's staff. "Methought this staff, mine office badge in court, Was broke in twain." (Shak) "All his officers brake their staves; but at their return new staves were delivered unto them." (Hayward) 4. A pole upon which a flag is supported and displayed. 5. The round of a ladder. "I ascend at one [ladder] of six hundred and thirty-nine staves." (Dr. J. Campbell (E. Brown's Travels)) 6. A series of verses so disposed that, when it is concluded, the same order begins again; a stanza; a stave. "Cowley found out that no kind of staff is proper for an heroic poem, as being all too lyrical." (Dryden) 7. The five lines and the spaces on which music is written; formerly called stave. 8. An arbor, as of a wheel or a pinion of a watch. 9. The grooved director for the gorget, or knife, used in cutting for stone in the bladder. 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. 11. Hence: A body of assistants serving to carry into effect the plans of a superintendant or manager; as, the staff of a newspaper. Jacob's staff, a square rod of wood standing flush with the wall on each of its sides, at the external angles of plastering, to prevent their being damaged. The staff of life, bread. "Bread is the staff of life." Staff tree, any plant of the genus Celastrus, mostly climbing shrubs of the northern hemisphere. The American species (C. Scandens) is commonly called bittersweet. See Bittersweet . To set, or To put, up, or down, one's staff, to take up one's residence; to lodge. (04 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Staff

stadimeters stadiometer stadion stadium stadium jumping stadium mustard stadiumlike stadiums stadtholder stadtholderate

stadtholderates stadtholders stadtholdership stadthouse stadthouses staff (current term) staff-tree family staff cell staff development staff function

staff functions staff line staff member staff of Aesculapius staff of life staff office staff officer staff officers staff sergeant staff sergeants

Literary usage of Staff

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"To officers of the General staff Corps are committed the further duties of rendering professional aid and assistance to the Secretary ..."

2. Library Journal by American Library Association, Library Association (1898)
"They were not all librarians, but had and still have the training of a staff. They all argued from the standpoint that business relations constitute one ..."

3. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"The General staff Corps 'under like direction is further charged with the duty of preparing plans for the national defense and for the mobilization of the ..."

4. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"The general staff corps, United States army, is composed of officers detailed for service in ... Upon being relieved from duty in the general staff corps, ..."

5. Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran/Contra Affair by Lee H. Hamilton, Daniel K. Inouye (1995)
"Chapter 2 The NSC staff Takes Contra Policy Underground In December 1981, the President authorized a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covert action program ..."

6. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and (1911)
"The pastoral staff is arried in the lefl hand, in order that the right may remain free ... [t is uncertain at what period the use of the pastoral staff was ..."

7. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"The General staff at my headquarters thereafter concerned itself with the broader phase of control. Under tny general supervision and pursuant to clearly ..."

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