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

There was an elevator, but Bat preferred to take the stairs.

From Literature

Slipping the instructions under a pile of his drawings, Jeremy headed out of his room and down the stairs.

From Literature

"We had around 300 individuals and families using the service and the cupboard under the stairs got a bit busy. So we decided to launch the supermarket in the store next to our hub."

From BBC

I nod and follow her down the stairs.

From Literature

People stood four rows deep, crowded around the stairs and hanging over the hoardings to catch a glimpse.

From BBC

Related Words

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