staff
staff Lexical Profile
staff Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A group of people employed by a company, organization, or business.
"The hospital relies heavily on its dedicated nursing staff to provide patient care round the clock."
A long stick used as a support when walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority.
"The experienced hiker leaned heavily on his wooden staff as he navigated the steep rocky trail."
American A set of five horizontal lines and four spaces that each represent a different musical pitch.
"The composer quickly jotted down a series of quarter notes on the staff."
• verb
To provide an organization, business, or event with the necessary workers or personnel.
"We need to staff the new customer support center by the end of the month."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to a group of employees, 'staff' is a collective noun that often takes a singular verb in American English and a plural verb in British English. For its physical definitions (a stick or musical lines), the plural can be either 'staffs' or 'staves'.
• Rhymes for staff
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'stæf' meaning 'walking stick, strong pole'. The sense of a 'group of military officers' emerged in the early 18th century from the idea of a 'staff of office', which later broadened to mean any group of employees.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.