STAPLE
Dictionary entry overview: What does staple mean?
• STAPLE (noun)
The noun STAPLE has 5 senses:
1. (usually plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
2. a natural fiber (raw cotton, wool, hemp, flax) that can be twisted to form yarn
3. material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing
4. a short U-shaped wire nail for securing cables
5. paper fastener consisting of a short length of U-shaped wire that can fasten papers together
Familiarity information: STAPLE used as a noun is common.
• STAPLE (adjective)
The adjective STAPLE has 1 sense:
1. necessary foods or commodities
Familiarity information: STAPLE used as an adjective is very rare.
• STAPLE (verb)
The verb STAPLE has 1 sense:
1. secure or fasten with a staple or staples
Familiarity information: STAPLE used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• STAPLE (noun)
Meaning:
(usually plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
staple; basic
Hypernyms ("staple" is a kind of...):
commodity; good; trade good (articles of commerce)
Domain usage:
plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)
Meaning:
A natural fiber (raw cotton, wool, hemp, flax) that can be twisted to form yarn
Classified under:
Nouns denoting substances
Synonyms:
staple fiber; staple fibre; staple
Context example:
staple fibers vary widely in length
Hypernyms ("staple" is a kind of...):
natural fiber; natural fibre (derived from plants or animals)
Meaning:
Material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing
Classified under:
Nouns denoting substances
Synonyms:
raw material; staple
Hypernyms ("staple" is a kind of...):
material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "staple"):
feedstock (the raw material that is required for some industrial process)
Meaning:
A short U-shaped wire nail for securing cables
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("staple" is a kind of...):
nail (a thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastener)
Meaning:
Paper fastener consisting of a short length of U-shaped wire that can fasten papers together
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("staple" is a kind of...):
paper fastener (a fastener for holding a sheet of paper in place)
• STAPLE (adjective)
Meaning:
Necessary foods or commodities
Context example:
wheat is a staple crop
Similar:
essential (basic and fundamental)
• STAPLE (verb)
Meaning:
Secure or fasten with a staple or staples
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
staple the papers together
Hypernyms (to "staple" is one way to...):
fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP
Antonym:
unstaple (take the staples off)
