staple
staple
adjective
/ˈsteɪpl/
only before noun
​forming a basic, large or important part of something
The staple crop is rice.
Jeans are a staple part of everyone's wardrobe.
Collocations
noun
crop
diet
fare
staple
noun
/ˈsteɪpl/
1 a small piece of wire that is used in a device called a stapler and is pushed through pieces of paper and bent over at the ends in order to fasten the pieces of paper together
2 ​a small piece of metal in the shape of a U that is hit into wooden surfaces using a hammer, used especially for holding electrical wires in place
​3 a basic type of food that is used a lot
Aid workers helped distribute corn, milk and other staples.
TOPICS Cooking and eating C2
TOPICS Farming C2
​4 something that is produced by a country and is important for its economy
Rubber became the staple of the Malayan economy.
5 ​staple (of something) a large or important part of something
Royal gossip is a staple of the tabloid press.
staple
verb (staples, stapled, stapled, stapling)
/ˈsteɪpl/
​staple something + adv./prep. to attach one thing to another using a staple or staples
Staple the invoice to the receipt.
Staple the invoice and the receipt together.
Word Origin
adjective Middle English (originally referring to a centre of trade): from Old French estaple ‘market’, from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch stapel ‘pillar, emporium’; related to the verb staple.