staff

The people who work for a business or organization.

• The staff are very helpful.
• We hired three new staff members.
• All staff must attend the meeting.

Similar words: employees, workers, personnel

Common phrases: office staff, staff member, staff meeting, teaching staff

A long, strong stick used to support someone walking or as a weapon.

• He carried a wooden staff.
• The traveler leaned on her staff while resting.
• The fighters raised their staffs before the match.

Similar words: walking stick, rod

Common phrases: walking staff, wooden staff, carry a staff

The set of five lines on which musical notes are written.

• Write the note on the staff.
• The notes sit on lines and spaces of the staff.
• Piano music usually uses two staffs joined together.

Similar words: stave

Common phrases: musical staff, staff lines, treble staff

A pole or stick carried by an official as a sign of their position or power.

• The official carried a ceremonial staff.
• The bishop held his staff during the procession.
• Their decorated staffs showed their positions in the court.

Similar words: staff of office

Common phrases: staff of office, ceremonial staff, bishop's staff

To provide the people needed to work in a business, organization, or place.

• We need to staff the new shop.
• Volunteers staffed the help desk.
• The hospital is staffed by experienced doctors and nurses.

How to use it: staff something with someone (They staffed the information desk with volunteers.); be staffed by someone (The clinic is staffed by local nurses.)

Similar words: provide workers for

Common phrases: staff a shop, staff an office, staff a hospital