staple

¹

[stey-puhl]

noun

1. a short piece of wire bent so as to bind together papers, sections of a book, or the like, by driving the ends through the sheets and clinching them on the other side.

2. a similar, often U -shaped piece of wire or metal with pointed ends for driving into a surface to hold a hasp, hook, pin, bolt, wire, or the like.

verb (used with object)

stapled, stapling 

1. to secure or fasten by a staple or staples.

   to staple three sheets together.

staple

²

[stey-puhl]

noun

1. a principal raw material or commodity grown or manufactured in a locality.

2. a principal commodity in a mercantile field; goods in steady demand or of known or recognized quality.

3. a basic or necessary item of food.

   She bought flour, sugar, salt, and other staples.

4. a basic or principal item, thing, feature, element, or part.

   Cowboy dramas are a staple on television.

5. the fiber of wool, cotton, flax, rayon, etc., considered with reference to length and fineness.

6. Textiles.,  a standard length of textile fibers, representing the average of such fibers taken collectively, as short-staple or long-staple cotton.

7. History/Historical.,  a town or place appointed by royal authority as the seat of a body of merchants having the exclusive right of purchase of certain classes of goods for export.

adjective

1. chief or prominent among the products exported or produced by a country or district; chiefly or largely dealt in or consumed.

2. basic, chief, or principal.

   staple industries.

3. principally used.

   staple subjects of conversation.

verb (used with object)

stapled, stapling 

1. to sort or classify according to the staple or fiber, as wool.

staple

¹

/ ˈsteɪpəl /

adjective

1. of prime importance; principal

   staple foods

2. (of a commodity) forming a predominant element in the product, consumption, or trade of a nation, region, etc

noun

1. a staple commodity

2. a main constituent; integral part

3. a principal raw material produced or grown in a region

4. the fibre of wool, cotton, etc, graded as to length and fineness

5. (in medieval Europe) a town appointed to be the exclusive market for one or more major exports of the land

verb

1. (tr) to arrange or sort (wool, cotton, etc) according to length and fineness

staple

²

/ ˈsteɪpəl /

noun

1. a short length of thin wire bent into a square U-shape, used to fasten papers, cloth, etc

2. a short length of stiff wire formed into a U-shape with pointed ends, used for holding a hasp to a post, securing electric cables, etc

verb

1. (tr) to secure (papers, wire, etc) with a staple or staples

Word History and Origins

Origin of staple¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English stapel “support, stake, post,” Old English stapol “post, column”; cognate with Middle Dutch stapel “foundation,” German Stapel “pile,” Old Norse stǫpull “pillar”

Origin of staple²

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English staple, stapel “official market where merchants have trading rights,” from Anglo-French staple, Old French estaple, from Medieval Latin stapula, staplus, from Middle Dutch stapel, stapol

Word History and Origins

Origin of staple¹

C15: from Middle Dutch stapel warehouse; see _staple ¹

Origin of staple²

Old English stapol prop, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch stapel step, Old High German staffal

Example Sentences

Her signature bowler hat and ties became a fashion staple, and fans still can’t think of the song “Seems Like Old Times” without sobbing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The coastal summer vacation has long been a staple of middle-class Americana, but what happens when the tourists go home?

Read more on Salon

As superyachts have become a staple of the billionaire class, owners and designers have taken pains to turn multimillion-dollar pleasure vessels into well-appointed floating offices, outfitted with executive desks, sleek wall art and high-speed internet.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Boiled Swiss chard, simply seasoned with salt and pepper, is a staple side dish in my kitchen in autumn.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As superyachts have become a staple of the billionaire class, owners and designers turned these pricey pleasure vessels into well-appointed floating offices, outfitted with executive desks and high-speed internet.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• predominant