stair

American  

[stair] / stɛər /

noun

1. one of a flight or series of steps for going from one level to another, as in a building.

2. stairs, such steps collectively, especially as forming a flight or a series of flights.

   I was so excited I ran all the way up the stairs.

3. a series or flight of steps; stairway.

   a winding stair.

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stair British  

/ stɛə /

noun

1. one of a flight of stairs

2. a series of steps

   a narrow stair

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Other Word Forms

• stairless adjective
• stairlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of stair

before 1000; Middle English stey ( e ) r, Old English stǣger; cognate with Dutch, Low German steiger landing; akin to sty ¹

Example Sentences

So I kicked the door but when I kicked the door there was someone on the stairs shouting, so I ran off.

From BBC

Navigation involves the challenge of a robot getting from point A to point B. This may involve unknown terrain, stairs and obstacles.

From The Wall Street Journal

He had enough time to turn off electrical appliances before he descended the stairs from their fourth-floor apartment to safety.

From The Wall Street Journal

Whether that is with a light walk or taking a few flights of stairs.

From Science Daily

Single stair, and the fate of Culver City’s ordinance specifically, represents an early California acid test.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amount
• extent
• grade
• intensity
• point
• quality
• rate
• scale
• scope
• severity
• size
• standard
• strength
• term