staple

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A user suggests that this entry should be cleaned up, giving the reason: “some noun definitions overlap (wire fastener of metal fastener?), the sheep wool def should be under a proper etymology, the example sentence for noun uses a verb”.
Please see the discussion on Requests for cleanup(+) for more information and remove this template after the problem has been dealt with.

Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology 1

Via Middle English from Old French estaple, of Germanic origin.

[edit] Noun

Singular
staple

Plural
staples

staple (plural staples)

  1. A basic or essential supply.
  2. A basic food.
    Rice is a staple in the diet of many cultures.

[edit] Translations
basic or essential supply
basic food

[edit] Etymology 2

A box of staples

From Old English stapol.

[edit] Noun

Singular
staple

Plural
staples

staple (plural staples)

  1. A wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper by penetrating all the sheets and curling around.
  2. A wire fastener used to secure something else by penetrating and curling.
    Can you believe they use staples to hold cars together these days?
  3. A U-shaped metal fastener, used to attach fence wire or other material to posts or structures.
    The rancher used staples to attach the barbed wire to the fence-posts.
  4. One of a set of U-shaped metal rods hammered into a structure, such as a piling or wharf, which serve as a ladder.
    Fortunately, there were staples in the quay wall, and she was able to climb out of the water.

[edit] Translations
wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper
wire fastener in general
U-shaped metal fastener
one of set of rods hammered into structure

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to staple

Third person singular
staples

Simple past
stapled

Past participle
stapled

Present participle
stapling

to staple (third-person singular simple present staples, present participle stapling, simple past and past participle stapled)

  1. (transitive) To secure with a staple.

[edit] Translations
secure with a staple

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Etymology 3

This entry lacks etymological information. If you are familiar with the origin of this word, please add it to the page as described here.

[edit] Noun

Singular
staple

Plural
staples

staple (plural staples)

  1. The length of the fibers in cotton, sheep’s wool, or the like, a measure of its usefulness for spinning

[edit] Translations
length of fibers in wool
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