STAIRWAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stairway mean? 

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

1. a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• STAIRWAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

staircase; stairway

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

way (any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another)

Meronyms (parts of "stairway"):

landing (an intermediate platform in a staircase)

stairhead (platform at the top of a staircase)

stair; step (support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway)

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

backstairs (a second staircase at the rear of a building)

companionway (a stairway or ladder that leads from one deck to another on a ship)

escalator; moving staircase; moving stairway (a stairway whose steps move continuously on a circulating belt)

emergency exit; fire escape (a stairway (often on the outside of a building) that permits exit in the case of fire or other emergency)

flight; flight of stairs; flight of steps (a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next)

ghat (stairway in India leading down to a landing on the water)

stairs; steps (a flight of stairs or a flight of steps)

ramp (a movable staircase that passengers use to board or leave an aircraft)

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

building; edifice (a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place)

 Context examples 

It was open, and led through a stone passage to a circular stairway, which went steeply down.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

There was a long rumble of sound, and it seemed to him that he was falling down a vast and interminable stairway.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The frightened household clustered at the top of the stairway.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

At last, however, I found one door at the top of the stairway which, though it seemed to be locked, gave a little under pressure.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Then he carried the wheel up the narrow stairway that clung like a fire-escape to the rear wall of the building, and when he had moved his bed out from the wall, found there was just space enough in the small room for himself and the wheel.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)