stair
gb/stˈɛɹ/ us/stˈɛɹ/
A1
English
~ 2300
lépcsőfok, lépcső
NOUN
A2
1
lépcsőfok
A2
Usage pattern:
to walk up/down [a stair]
She tripped on the top stair.
Megbotlott a legfelső lépcsőfokban.
The old wooden stair creaked loudly.
A régi falépcsőfok hangosan nyikorgott.
He paused on the stair to catch his breath.
There’s a crack in the third stair from the bottom.
Learner examples
I sit on the stair.
A lépcsőfokon ülök.
He stands on one stair.
Egy lépcsőfokon áll.
She walks up the stair slowly.
The dog sleeps on the stair.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'stair' when they mean 'stairs' (plural) to refer to the whole structure.
Meaning
one step of a staircase
Collocations
climb a stair
|miss a stair
|slip on a stair
|wooden stair
Synonyms
step (General term for the flat part you put your foot on; can refer to stairs or other steps outdoors.)
Antonyms
landing (A flat area between sets of stairs, not a single step.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|architecture
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
One step in a set of steps that help you go up or down.
One of the flat, horizontal surfaces in a series that you walk on to go up or down between levels in a building.
NOUN
A1
2
lépcső
A2
Usage pattern:
to go up/down [the stairs]
He ran up the stairs to answer the phone.
Felszaladt a lépcsőn, hogy felvegye a telefont.
They painted the stairs bright red.
Élénkpirosra festették a lépcsőt.
We met on the stairs outside her apartment.
The stairs were slippery after the rain.
Learner examples
I go up the stairs.
Felmegyek a lépcsőn.
She runs down the stairs.
Leszalad a lépcsőn.
We clean the stairs every week.
He falls down the stairs.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'stairs' with 'steps' when talking about outdoor settings.
Meaning
set of steps between levels
Collocations
climb the stairs
|go down the stairs
|run up the stairs
|fall down the stairs
Synonyms
staircase (More formal or architectural term for the whole structure.)
Antonyms
elevator (A machine that carries people between floors instead of steps.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|architecture
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A group of steps that help you go from one floor to another.
A structure consisting of a series of steps for going from one level to another, usually inside a building.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stair
IPA
GB/stˈɛɹ/
US/stˈɛɹ/
Syllables & stress
stair (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stair)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stair
- Plural: stairs
Word family
Expressions
fall down the stairs
1/fˈɔl dˈaʊn ðə stˈɛɹz/
fixed phrase
accidentally tumble down steps
To go down stairs by accident because you lose your balance.
Examples
- She fell down the stairs and hurt her ankle.
- Be careful, or you might fall down the stairs.
go down the stairs
1/ɡˈoʊ dˈaʊn ðə stˈɛɹz/
fixed phrase
descend using steps
To walk from a higher place to a lower place using stairs.
Examples
- She went down the stairs to greet her guests.
- We go down the stairs to reach the garden.
run up the stairs
1/ɹˈʌn ˈʌp ðə stˈɛɹz/
fixed phrase
go upstairs quickly on foot
To go up stairs fast by running.
Examples
- He ran up the stairs to answer the phone.
- The children ran up the stairs laughing.