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staff

staff

1 9.5
A light building material made from plaster and hair used for decoration
  • noun
  • /stæf/
  • Archaic
translation icon : staff
  • For the event, they finished the structure by applying a decorative layer of staff to enhance its appearance.

Examples

  • The artist used staff to coat the exterior of the exhibition pavilion, giving it a unique texture.

  • This exceptional figurative staff is one of the finest examples of Chokwe carving traditions.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The neoclassical pavilion, layered with staff ornamentation and designed by architect Elise Mercur of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, proved to be a popular destination.

    Blog text (22)
  • The architect chose to cover the walls of the temporary structure with staff for a rustic look.

Compounds

172 5.2

A senior military officer who leads a branch and manages its operations and administration

90 1.5

A person who works for an organization

A group of top military leaders who advise the President of the United States

staff sergeant
  • Specialized
14 3.5

A military rank in the United States Army, Marines, or Air Force above corporal and below sergeant first class

A senior doctor who leads the hospital doctors and makes sure medical care is safe

half-staff
  • Formal
7 7.1

A position partway down a flagpole where a flag flies to show respect after a death

A group of employees who protect people, property and information from theft and damage

5 1.1

People who work in an office doing jobs like answering phones and filing papers

4 2.5

People who work for a company and sell its products or services

general staff
  • Specialized
3 4.4

A group of senior officers who help a leader plan and run military operations

People who work on studies and experiments at a university or lab

staff officer
  • Specialized
3 6.1

A person in the military who helps a commander plan and manage operations

People who work at a place doing cleaning, fixing and helping customers

staff of life
  • Archaic
2 3.7

A basic bread people eat as a main food

A group of workers who fix and look after buildings and equipment

People in the military who work in the main military office to plan and manage activities

staff office
  • Formal
1 3.1

A department that hires, trains, and manages employees

7.8

People who answer users' questions and fix computer problems for them

Jacob's staff
  • Specialized
9.9

A desert shrub with thin spiny branches and bright red flowers after rain

treble staff
  • Specialized
7.4

Five lines that show musical notes above middle C, used for violin or right-hand piano

staff line
  • Specialized
5.8

A horizontal line in written music that shows how high or low a note is

staff tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A small climbing tree with bright berries that wraps around fences

staff vine
  • Specialized
9.9

A climbing shrub with yellow seed pods that show bright red seeds

staff-tree family
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of trees, shrubs, and vines with bright-colored fruits

Surface Forms

staff singular
staffs plural

Etymology

The architectural staff is a light plaster mix used as a decorative 'covering' on temporary buildings and fair displays, so this 'staff' is easy to shape into ornaments and statues.