staircase
gb/stˈɛɹkˌeɪs/ us/stˈɛɹkˌeɪs/
A2
English
~ 4800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A set of indoor steps
A set of steps inside a building that go from one floor to another.
Usage pattern:
a staircase in [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'staircase' with 'stairs'; 'staircase' usually refers to the whole structure, while 'stairs' can mean the steps themselves.
Synonyms
stairs (The most common everyday term; 'staircase' is slightly more formal or descriptive.)
|
stairway (Similar meaning but sometimes used for both indoor and outdoor structures.)
Antonyms
elevator (An opposite in terms of method for moving between floors without steps.)
Collocations
spiral staircase
|wooden staircase
|grand staircase
|narrow staircase
|climb the staircase
Themes
architecture
|daily life
|home
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The old mansion had a beautiful wooden staircase.
- She hurried down the staircase to answer the phone.
- A spiral staircase led to the attic.
- The hotel lobby featured a grand marble staircase.
Learner examples
- I walked up the staircase to my room.
- The staircase is next to the kitchen.
- He fell on the staircase yesterday.
- We painted the staircase white.
Grammar
Dictionary form
staircase
IPA
GB/stˈɛɹkˌeɪs/
US/stˈɛɹkˌeɪs/
Syllables & stress
stair - case (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (stair)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: staircase
- Plural: staircases
Word family
Forms
staircases
noun
Related words
Expressions
grand staircase
1/ɡɹˈænd stˈɛɹkˌeɪs/
fixed phrase
A large, decorative main staircase
A big and beautiful staircase, usually in an important building or home.
Examples
- Guests entered through the hall and saw the grand staircase ahead.
- The palace's grand staircase was lined with red carpet.
spiral staircase
1/spˈaɪɹəl stˈɛɹkˌeɪs/
fixed phrase
stairs that go around in a spiral
A set of stairs that turn around and around a center as they go up or down.
Examples
- The library has a spiral staircase leading to the second floor.
- They climbed the narrow spiral staircase to the top of the tower.
- They built a spiral staircase to save space in the small apartment.
- A spiral staircase connects the two floors of the studio.
- The old lighthouse still has its original iron spiral staircase.