STAIR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stair mean? 

• STAIR (noun)
  The noun STAIR has 1 sense:

1. support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway

  Familiarity information: STAIR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STAIR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

stair; step

Context example:

he paused on the bottom step

Hypernyms ("stair" is a kind of...):

support (any device that bears the weight of another thing)

Meronyms (parts of "stair"):

riser (structural member consisting of the vertical part of a stair or step)

tread (structural member consisting of the horizontal part of a stair or step)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stair"):

corbel step; corbie-step; corbiestep; crow step ((architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall)

Holonyms ("stair" is a part of...):

staircase; stairway (a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps)

 Context examples 

I am afraid I alarmed you by running so fast up those stairs.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

This was my chance. I tiptoed across the cabin and to the top of the stairs.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But I could see four or five men running in great haste, up the stairs, to the top of the island, who then disappeared.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“I wonder whence that stair leads?” said Jim.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"I cannot imagine why they should suppose I should not like a long walk," said Mary, as she went up stairs.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

When she got to the cellar stairs she saw what had happened.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

It is a mere nothing after all; and not the least draught from the stairs.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Once there, we might hold the narrow stair; and at least, as the walls are of a greater thickness, it would be longer ere they could burn them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mercury’s great valley is bound by two large fault scarps—cliff-like landforms that resemble stair steps.

(‘Great Valley’ Found on Mercury, NASA)

He let himself in with a latch-key and climbed the stairs to the second floor.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)