staple
1[ stey-puh l ]
/ ˈsteɪ pəl /
noun
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.
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), sta·pled, sta·pling.
to secure or fasten by a staple or staples: to staple three sheets together.
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Nearby words
Origin of staple
1before 900; Middle English stapel orig., support, post, Old English stapol; cognate with Middle Dutch stapel foundation, German Stapel pile, Old Norse stǫpull pillar
Definition for staple (2 of 2)
staple
2[ stey-puh l ]
/ ˈsteɪ pəl /
noun
adjective
verb (used with object), sta·pled, sta·pling.
to sort or classify according to the staple or fiber, as wool.
Origin of staple
21375–1425; late Middle English: place where merchants have trading rights < Middle Dutch stapel
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for staple
British Dictionary definitions for staple (1 of 2)
staple
1/ (ˈsteɪpəl) /
noun
a short length of thin wire bent into a square U-shape, used to fasten papers, cloth, etc
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
(tr) to secure (papers, wire, etc) with a staple or staples
Word Origin for staple
Old English stapol prop, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch stapel step, Old High German staffal
British Dictionary definitions for staple (2 of 2)
staple
2/ (ˈsteɪpəl) /
adjective
of prime importance; principalstaple foods
(of a commodity) forming a predominant element in the product, consumption, or trade of a nation, region, etc
noun
verb
(tr) to arrange or sort (wool, cotton, etc) according to length and fineness
Word Origin for staple
C15: from Middle Dutch stapel warehouse; see staple 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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