noun
Uncommon
staircase
STEHR-kays
Staircase (noun) means a full flight of stairs together with its structure and railing. Example: “The grand staircase swept up to the ballroom.”
noun
1
A full flight of stairs together with its structure and railing.
"The grand staircase swept up to the ballroom."
"She carried the shopping up the narrow staircase to the third floor."
"A wooden staircase with a polished rail curved down into the hall."
How to use staircase
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA set of stairs, typically indoors, including its supporting structure.
Common mistake
A "staircase" usually refers to the physical structure (steps plus rail), while "stairwell" is the vertical shaft it sits in.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- staircases
- Third person singular
- staircases
- Past tense
- staircased
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The grand _____ swept up to the ballroom.
Etymology
A compound of stair and case, in the sense of an enclosing structure.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for staircase
See all rhymes for staircase →Frequently asked questions
What does “staircase” mean?
The word “staircase” means a full flight of stairs together with its structure and railing. In plain terms, a set of stairs, typically indoors, including its supporting structure.
How do you pronounce “staircase”?
“Staircase” is pronounced STEHR-kays (/ˈstɛɹˌkeɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “staircase” in a sentence?
Here is “staircase” used in a sentence: “The grand staircase swept up to the ballroom.”
What part of speech is “staircase”?
“Staircase” is a noun.
Is “staircase” a common word?
“Staircase” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a staircase and a stairway?
A staircase refers to the physical structure itself, including the steps, railing, and supporting framework, while a stairway more often describes the passage or route the stairs form through a building. In everyday speech the two words are used almost interchangeably, but staircase leans toward the built object and stairway toward the path it creates.
What is the difference between a staircase and simply saying stairs?
Stairs usually refers just to the individual steps you walk up or down, while a staircase includes the whole assembly, steps, railing, and structural framing together. You might say you tripped on the stairs but admired the design of the staircase.
What are common words used to describe types of staircase?
Staircases are commonly described as spiral, straight, winding, grand, or floating, depending on their shape and design. These descriptive terms usually precede the noun, as in a spiral staircase or a grand staircase.
