: a usually U-shaped fastener: such as
a
: a metal loop both ends of which are driven into a surface to hold the hook, hasp, or bolt of a lock, secure a rope, or fix a wire in place
b
: a small wire both ends of which are driven through layers of thin and easily penetrable material (such as paper) and usually clinched to hold the layers together
c
: a usually metal surgical fastener used to hold layers of tissue together (as in the closure of an incision)
1
: a town used as a center for the sale or exportation of commodities in bulk
2
: a place of supply : source
3
: a chief commodity or production of a place
4
a
: a commodity for which the demand is constant
b
: something having widespread and constant use or appeal
c
: the sustaining or principal element : substance
5
6
a
: textile fiber (such as wool and rayon) of relatively short length that when spun and twisted forms a yarn rather than a filament
b
: the length of a piece of such textile fiber
Synonyms
Examples of staple in a Sentence
Verb
I stapled the pages in the upper left corner.
Noun (2)
reading is the very staple of a person's education
Adjective
such staple items as flour and sugar
That's a staple plot in mystery novels.
staple crops like wheat, rice, or sugarcane
Recent Examples on the Web
Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Analysts standing in front of a big electronic board counting votes and breaking them down state by state, county by county, in granular detail have now become an election night staple.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2024
Everybody is a gamer now, and not everybody’s life can accommodate a $500 immersion box stapled to the living room TV stand.
—Cecilia D'anastasio, WIRED, 5 Oct. 2020
Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
While her boot-and-leather-jacket game is as equally on point as her taste in everyday carryalls, the prices of these bags are often more attainable than other staple pieces in her wardrobe…which brings me to her latest suede bag.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for staple 
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Noun
Hush puppies, once a staple on Red Lobster’s menu, are coming back.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Analysts standing in front of a big electronic board counting votes and breaking them down state by state, county by county, in granular detail have now become an election night staple.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
Neil the Demon staples his face back together after Sister Andrea slices it!
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2024
Everybody is a gamer now, and not everybody’s life can accommodate a $500 immersion box stapled to the living room TV stand.
—Cecilia D'anastasio, WIRED, 5 Oct. 2020
Adjective
Executives have stated in previous earnings calls that despite raising prices, customers are still buying staple offerings, like its Al Pastor chicken and Braised Beef Barbacoa.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
While her boot-and-leather-jacket game is as equally on point as her taste in everyday carryalls, the prices of these bags are often more attainable than other staple pieces in her wardrobe…which brings me to her latest suede bag.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for staple
Dictionary Entries Near staple
Cite this Entry
“Staple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staple. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
staple
1 of 4 noun
sta·ple
ˈstā-pəl 
: a usually U-shaped fastener: as
a
: a piece of metal with sharp points to be driven into a surface to hold something (as a hook, rope, or wire)
b
: a piece of thin wire that is driven through papers and bent over at the ends to fasten them together or driven through thin material to fasten it to something else
c
: a usually metal surgical fastener used to hold layers of tissue together (as in the closing of a wound)
staple
3 of 4 noun1
: a chief product of business or farming of a place
2
a
: something in widespread and constant use or demand
b
: the chief part of something
potatoes are the staple of their diet
3
4
: textile fiber (as wool or rayon) suitable for spinning into yarn
staple
4 of 4 adjective1
: used, needed, or enjoyed constantly usually by many individuals
2
: produced regularly or in large quantities
staple crops such as wheat and rice
3
: principal entry 1, chief
bamboo is the staple diet of the panda
Etymology
Noun
Old English stapol "post"
Noun
Middle English staple "a major market town, place for exporting"; of Dutch origin
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