First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1staff
noun \ˈstaf\
: a group of people who work for an organization or business
: a group of military officers who help a commanding officer but who do not take part in active fighting
: a long stick that you carry in your hand for support while walking
plural staffs \ˈstafs, ˈstavz\ or staves \ˈstavz, ˈstāvz\
Full Definition of STAFF
1
2
a : crosier b : a rod carried as a symbol of office or authority
3
: the horizontal lines with their spaces on which music is written —called also stave
4
: any of various graduated sticks or rules used for measuring : rod
5
plural staffs a : the officers chiefly responsible for the internal operations of an institution or business b : a group of officers appointed to assist a civil executive or commanding officer c : military or naval officers not eligible for operational command d : the personnel who assist a director in carrying out an assigned task e plural staff : a member of a staff <employs three full-time staff>
— staff adjective
See staff defined for English-language learners
See staff defined for kids
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Origin of STAFF
Middle English staf, from Old English stæf; akin to Old High German stab staff, Sanskrit stabhnāti he supports
2staff
transitive verb
: to supply (an organization or business) with workers
: to work for (an organization or business) as a member of a staff
Full Definition of STAFF
1
: to supply with a staff or with workers
2
: to serve as a staff member of <an organization staffed by volunteers>
First Known Use of STAFF
1859
STAFF Defined for Kids
staff
noun \ˈstaf\
plural staffs or staves \ˈstavz\
Definition of STAFF for Kids
1
: a pole, stick, rod, or bar used as a support or as a sign of authority <the staff of a flag> <a bishop's staff>
2
plural staffs : a group of persons serving as assistants to or employees under a chief <a hospital staff> <the administrative staff>
3
: the five parallel lines with their four spaces on which music is written
4
: something that is a source of strength <Bread is the staff of life.>
5
plural staffs : a group of military officers who plan and manage for a commanding officer
Medical Dictionary
staff
noun \ˈstaf\
Medical Definition of STAFF
: the doctors and surgeons regularly attached to a hospital and helping to determine its policies and guide its activities
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