HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

staff¹

(stăf)

n. pl. staffs or staves (stāvz)

a. A stick or cane carried as an aid in walking or climbing.

b. A stout stick used as a weapon; a cudgel.

c. A pole on which a flag is displayed; a flagstaff.

d. A rod or baton carried as a symbol of authority.

2. pl. staffs A rule or similar graduated stick used for testing or measuring, as in surveying.

3. pl. staffs

a. A group of assistants to a manager, executive, or other person in authority.

b. A group of military officers assigned to assist a commanding officer in an executive or advisory capacity.

c. The personnel who carry out a specific enterprise: the nursing staff of a hospital.

4. Something that serves as a staple or support.

5. Music A set of horizontal lines and intermediate spaces used in notation to represent a sequence of pitches, in modern notation normally consisting of five lines and four spaces. Also called stave.

tr.v. staffed, staff·ing, staffs

1. To provide with a staff of workers or assistants.

2. To serve on the staff of (an organization).

[Middle English staf, from Old English stæf.]

(click for a larger image)

staff1

staff²

(stăf)

A building material of plaster and fiber used as an exterior wall covering of temporary buildings, as at expositions.

[Perhaps from German Stoff, stuff.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products