VocabDictionary

staple

/หˆsteษช.pษ™l/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.noun

A main or important element, product, or part of something.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œRice and wheat are staples of the local diet.โ€
  • โ€œAction movies have become a summer box-office staple.โ€
2.noun

A small piece of bent wire used for fastening sheets of paper, fabric, or wire together.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œShe ran out of staples for her desk stapler.โ€
  • โ€œRemove any metal staples from the documents before recycling them.โ€
3.verb

To attach or secure things together using a staple or staples.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œPlease staple the receipt to the back of the invoice.โ€
  • โ€œHe stapled the flyers to the wooden bulletin board.โ€
4.adjective

Main or principal; receiving or producing regular attention or trade.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œCotton is the staple crop of the region.โ€
  • โ€œBread and milk are staple items at the grocery store.โ€
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โ€œstapleโ€.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Old English 'stapol' meaning a post, pillar, or prop. The sense evolved via Anglo-Norman into a designated market town where goods were stored and taxed, eventually coming to mean a principal commodity traded, and finally the standard or chief element of anything.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of a metal staple holding papers together as the 'main stay' or essential part of your office work.

Rhyming Words

Frequently Asked Questions About โ€œstapleโ€

1. What is the meaning of โ€œstapleโ€ in English?

In English, staple (noun) is defined as: โ€œA main or important element, product, or part of something.โ€.

2. How do you use โ€œstapleโ€ in a sentence?

โ€œRice and wheat are staples of the local diet.โ€

3. What are English synonyms of โ€œstapleโ€?

Common synonyms include:essential,mainstay,commodity,basis,pillar

4. What is the etymology and word origin of โ€œstapleโ€?

Old English 'stapol' meaning a post, pillar, or prop. The sense evolved via Anglo-Norman into a designated market town where goods were stored and taxed, eventually coming to mean a principal commodity traded, and finally the standard or chief element of anything.