Definition of staple - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
attach securelyfasten papers together with a small metal clip
- She stapled the papers together for the meeting..
2.
textilesDated sort wool or cotton by length and finenessDated
- They stapled the cotton before processing.
Noun
1.
paper fastenerwire fastener used to secure papers
- I used a staple to bind the documents.
2.
supplybasic or essential supply
- Bread is a staple in many households.
3.
businessthe principal commodity produced in a region
- Cotton is a staple of the southern economy.
4.
entertainmentrecurring topic or character
- The detective became a staple in the series.
5.
fence fastenerU-shaped metal fastener for fences
- He used a staple to attach the wire to the post.
Adjective
1.
importanceof prime importance or principal
- Rice is a staple food in many countries.
2.
tradeforming a predominant element in trade or consumption
- Wheat is a staple crop in this region.
Images of staple

wire fastener used to secure papers
Expressions with staple
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
key part of a field, often its main offering
In tech, cloud storage is a staple of the industry.
to be regularly used or enjoyed
This dish has become a staple in our family dinners.
something essential or regularly used
Coffee is a staple in her life, she drinks it daily.
basic food or product regularly consumed
Rice is a staple of life in many Asian countries.
main foods people eat most often in daily life
Rice is a staple diet in many Asian countries.
device with pincers to remove staples
I used a staple remover to detach the papers.
main food eaten regularly in large amounts
Rice is a staple food in many Asian countries.
handheld tool that drives staples into a surface
He used a staple gun to attach the fabric to the frame..
basic or essential part
The white shirt is a staple piece in any wardrobe.
recurring character in a series or genre
The wise mentor is a staple character in fantasy novels.
tool inserting staples into materials
The staple punch is essential for binding reports.
main farm plant grown in large amounts as basic food source
Rice is the most important staple crop for millions of people.
basic products people regularly need and buy for daily use
The small shop sells staple goods such as bread, milk, and sugar.
having relatively long fibers
This shirt is made from long-staple cotton.
essential shareholding in a business
Owning a staple share gives significant influence in decisions.
Origin of staple
Old English, stapol (post, pillar)
Terms with staple included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
cooking staple
cereal crop and its seeds, used for food, drink, animal feed
kitchen staple
liquid fat pressed from olive fruit, used for cooking, cosmetics, remedies
status
achieve status as a staple in a community or industry
staple grains
grains grown for human consumption
food
nutritious grain from the Andes used as staple food
food
bread or staple food essential for survival
food
staple food starch in tropical regions
plant origin
soft, fluffy staple fiber of the cotton plant
staple bread
bread commonly eaten in homes as a basic food
necessity
necessary commodity or staple requirement
cuisine
starchy staple fruits and vegetables in Caribbean cuisine
grain
finely ground maize used as food staple or in South African cooking
spinning fiber
closely twisted yarn from combed long-staple wool
crop
grain from a tall cereal plant used as staple food
plant
taro plant used as a staple food
textiles
strong cotton thread made from long-staple cotton
cooking
staple food in southern Africa
maize porridge
staple food in many South African households
food
hard, unleavened biscuit or cracker used as a long-lasting food staple
East Africa
staple food made from cornmeal
textiles
fabric woven from fibers of a short-staple fiber plant
Examples of staple in a sentence
The teacher stapled the assignments together. Workers stapled the wool to ensure uniform quality. Farmers staple the fibers before sending them to the factory. The staple jammed in the machine. She ran out of staples during the presentation. Rice is a staple in Asian cuisine.
Milk is a staple in our daily diet. Wheat is a staple in many countries. Rice serves as a staple for millions worldwide. The villain became a staple in the franchise. The theme song is a staple of the show. Drive a staple over the mesh to secure it. Several staples held the barbed wire in place. The staple crops are vital for the economy. Education is a staple part of societal development. Rice is a staple food in many Asian countries. Coffee is a staple beverage for many adults.
View all translations of staple
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:agrafer, agrafe, ...
- German:heften, Heftklammer, ...
- Italian:pinzare, punto metallico, ...
- Spanish:grapar, grapa, ...
- Portuguese:grampear, grampo, ...
- Chinese:订, 订书钉, ...
- Japanese:ホチキスで留める, ホチキスの針, ...
- Arabic:دبَّسَ, دَبّوس, ...
- Hebrew:לְשַׁדֵּךְ, סִיכָּה, ...
- Russian:скрепить, скоба, ...
- Ukrainian:скріплювати, скоба, ...
- Hindi:स्टेपल करना, स्टेपल, ...
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