Staple
WordNet

adjective


(1)   Necessary foods or commodities
"Wheat is a staple crop"

noun


(2)   (usually plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
(3)   Paper fastener consisting of a short length of U-shaped wire that can fasten papers together
(4)   A short U-shaped wire nail for securing cables
(5)   Material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing
(6)   A natural fiber (raw cotton, wool, hemp, flax) that can be twisted to form yarn
"Staple fibers vary widely in length"

verb


(7)   Secure or fasten with a staple or staples
"Staple the papers together"
WiktionaryText

Etymology 1


from stapel or estaple, of origin, from stapol or stapel. Akin to stapol "market, court"

Noun



  1. A basic or essential supply.
  2. A basic food.
    Rice is a staple in the diet of many cultures.

Etymology 2



From stapol.

Noun



  1. A wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper by penetrating all the sheets and curling around.
  2. A wire fastener used to secure something else by penetrating and curling.
    Can you believe they use staples to hold cars together these days?
  3. A U-shaped metal fastener, used to attach fence wire or other material to posts or structures.
    The rancher used staples to attach the barbed wire to the fence-posts.
  4. One of a set of U-shaped metal rods hammered into a structure, such as a piling or wharf, which serve as a ladder.
    Fortunately, there were staples in the quay wall, and she was able to climb out of the water.

Noun



  1. The length of the fibers in cotton, sheep’s wool, or the like, a measure of its usefulness for spinning
 
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