How Do You Spell STAFF?

Pronunciation: [stˈaf] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "staff" is quite interesting when it comes to its pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled as /stæf/. The first two letters "st" are pronounced as "s" and "t" separately, and then the "a" is pronounced with a short "æ" sound, followed by the "f" sound. This word can have two meanings, either as a group of people working for an organization, or as a long stick used for support when walking. The spelling reflects the pronunciation accurately.

STAFF Meaning and Definition

  1. Staff is a noun that refers to a group of people who work together in an organization, typically serving as employees and contributing to the functioning and success of the entity. The term can also pertain to the entire body of employees within an establishment. Staff can encompass workers at various levels, from executives to middle management, supervisors, and other support or administrative professionals. They are responsible for carrying out diverse tasks and duties aligned with their respective roles and responsibilities.

    The staff plays a critical role in the day-to-day operations of an organization, ensuring smooth functioning, implementing policies and procedures, and achieving the overall goals and objectives. They may be involved in activities such as planning, decision-making, coordination, administration, customer support, production, and more, depending on the nature of the organization.

    Additionally, staff can also refer to the collective equipment or tools employed for a particular purpose. For example, in the context of hiking or trekking, a staff can be a long stick used for support while walking.

    Overall, staff can describe either a group of individuals working in an organization or the tools used to aid in movement or support.

  2. 1. A lithotomy guide; a curved sound, grooved on the convexity, introduced into the urethra, the groove serving as a guide for the point of the knife passed through the perineum and thence into the bladder. 2. See attending staff, consulting staff, house staff.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Top Common Misspellings for STAFF *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for STAFF

Etymology of STAFF

The word "staff" has its origins in Old English, derived from the Germanic root word "stabaz". This root word originally referred to a pointed object, such as a stick or pole used as a weapon. Over time, the meaning of "stabaz" expanded to include a general sense of support, such as a walking stick or a pole used to help someone walk.

In Middle English, "stabaz" evolved into the word "staf", which retained its association with a stick or pole, but also came to mean a rod or support used symbolically or metaphorically. It gained further figurative meanings, indicating a group of officials or collaborators in a hierarchical organization, such as the staff members of a king or lord.

Eventually, the word "staff" acquired its modern usage, referring to a group of people who assist or support in the operation of an organization or business.

Idioms with the word STAFF

  • the staff of life The idiom "the staff of life" refers to a basic necessity or staple food that is essential for sustenance. It implies that without it, life would be difficult or impossible.
  • Bread is the staff of life. The idiom "Bread is the staff of life" means that bread is considered the most essential and basic food necessary for survival. It emphasizes the significance and universal importance of bread as a staple food in sustaining life.
  • staff of life The idiom "staff of life" refers to a staple food or essential element that is necessary for survival. It is often used to describe a basic food item like bread or rice that provides sustenance and is considered crucial for one's well-being or nourishment.

Similar spelling words for STAFF

Plural form of STAFF is STAFFS

Conjugate verb Staff

CONDITIONAL

I would staff
you would staff
he/she/it would staff
we would staff
they would staff

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be staffing
you would be staffing
he/she/it would be staffing
we would be staffing
they would be staffing

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have staff
you would have staff
he/she/it would have staff
we would have staff
they would have staff

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been staffing
you would have been staffing
he/she/it would have been staffing
we would have been staffing
they would have been staffing

FUTURE

I will staff
you will staff
he/she/it will staff
we will staff
they will staff

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be staffing
you will be staffing
he/she/it will be staffing
we will be staffing
they will be staffing

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have staffed
you will have staffed
he/she/it will have staffed
we will have staffed
they will have staffed

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been staffing
you will have been staffing
he/she/it will have been staffing
we will have been staffing
they will have been staffing

IMPERATIVE

you staff
we let´s staff

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to staff

PAST

I staffed
you staffed
he/she/it staffed
we staffed
they staffed

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was staffing
you were staffing
he/she/it was staffing
we were staffing
they were staffing

PAST PARTICIPLE

staffed

PAST PERFECT

I had staffed
you had staffed
he/she/it had staffed
we had staffed
they had staffed

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been staffing
you had been staffing
he/she/it had been staffing
we had been staffing
they had been staffing

PRESENT

I staff
you staff
he/she/it staffs
we staff
they staff

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am staffing
you are staffing
he/she/it is staffing
we are staffing
they are staffing

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

staffing

PRESENT PERFECT

I have staffed
you have staffed
he/she/it has staffed
we have staffed
they have staffed

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been staffing
you have been staffing
he/she/it has been staffing
we have been staffing
they have been staffing
I would have staffed
we would have staffed
you would have staffed
he/she/it would have staffed
they would have staffed

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