staff
gb/stˈæf/ us/stˈæf/
A2
English
~ 500
személyzet, alkalmazottak, bot, vándorbot, vonalrendszer, kottavonalrendszer
NOUN
A2
1
személyzet
B1
Usage pattern:
the staff of [an organization]
The hotel staff were friendly and helpful.
A hotel személyzete barátságos és segítőkész volt.
All teaching staff must attend the meeting on Friday.
Az összes oktatói személyzetnek részt kell vennie a pénteki megbeszélésen.
The company hired more staff to handle the busy season.
Our restaurant has a staff of 20 people.
Hospital staff are working extra hours to care for patients.
Learner examples
The staff at this shop are nice.
Ebben a boltban kedves a személyzet.
She is part of the hospital staff.
A kórház személyzetéhez tartozik.
The school has ten staff members.
The staff meet every Monday.
Staff at the bank are very helpful.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'staff' (uncountable when referring to a group) with 'stuffs' or use 'staffs' for plural, which is rare and usually refers to groups from different organizations.
Meaning
All employees of an organization
Collocations
staff meeting
|staff training
|staff member
|staff shortage
|staff turnover
Synonyms
employees (More general term for people employed; 'staff' often refers collectively to a whole group.)
Antonyms
management (Refers to the people in charge, contrasted with general staff.)
Themes
business
|workplace
|administration
|work
Definition
All the people who work for a company, school, or other place.
All the people employed by a business, institution, or organization.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
walk with [a] staff
The old shepherd leaned on his wooden staff.
Az öreg pásztor a fából készült botjára támaszkodott.
He carried a staff for protection during his journey.
Az útja során védelemként botot vitt magával.
The wizard's staff glowed with magical light.
Learner examples
He walks with a long staff.
Egy hosszú bottal jár.
The man holds a wooden staff.
A férfi egy fából készült botot tart a kezében.
The old king had a gold staff.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'staff' in this sense with 'stick', which is more general and informal.
Meaning
Long stick for support or defense
Collocations
wooden staff
|carry a staff
|walking staff
Synonyms
cane (Usually shorter and specifically for walking aid; 'staff' can be taller and symbolic.)
Themes
travel
|outdoors
|daily_life
Definition
A long stick used to help you walk or as a weapon.
A long stick or pole used to help with walking, as a support, or as a weapon.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
3
The melody is written on the treble staff.
A dallam a violinkulcsos vonalrendszerre van leírva.
Each note on the staff represents a different pitch.
A vonalrendszeren minden hangjegy más-más magasságot jelöl.
A clef at the beginning of the staff shows how to read the notes.
Learner examples
Notes are on the music staff.
A hangjegyek a vonalrendszeren vannak.
The treble staff is for high sounds.
A violinkulcsos vonalrendszer a magas hangokhoz való.
The bass staff is for low sounds.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this 'staff' with people working somewhere; context about music should clarify meaning.
Meaning
Five lines for writing music notes
Collocations
musical staff
|treble staff
|bass staff
Synonyms
stave ('Stave' is the British English equivalent term in musical contexts.)
Themes
music
|arts_entertainment
Definition
Five lines in music where notes are written.
In music notation, a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces representing different pitches.
Grammar
Dictionary form
staff
IPA
GB/stˈæf/
US/stˈæf/
Syllables & stress
staff (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (staff)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: staff
- Plural: staff, staffs, staves
Word family
Forms
staffs
noun
staves
noun
Core family
staffing
noun
Related words
staffer
noun
Negative and opposite forms
understaffed
adjective
Expressions
join the staff
1/d͡ʒˈɔɪn ðə stˈæf/
fixed phrase
Start working as part of the employees
To start working at a company or institution as an employee.
Examples
- He joined the staff last month as a teacher.
- Several new nurses will join the staff next week.
on the staff
1/ˈɔn ðə stˈæf/
fixed phrase
Employed by an organization
Working as an employee in a company or institution.
Examples
- She has been on the staff here for over ten years.
- We have three doctors on the staff.
short-staffed
1/ʃˈɔɹt stˈæft/
fixed phrase
Not enough workers available
Not having enough workers to do the job well.
Examples
- The store was short-staffed during the holiday rush.
- We're short-staffed today, so please be patient.