noun
    
    /ˈstæf, Brit ˈstɑːf/ , pl staffs or staves /ˈsteɪvz/
    
    pl staffs
    
    a group of people who work for an organization or business [count]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] :a group of military officers who help a commanding officer but who do not take part in active fighting
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    pl staves [count]
    
    a old-fashioned :a long stick that you carry in your hand for support while walking
    
    a long stick that is carried as a symbol of authority
    
    
    
    pl staves [count] music :the five horizontal lines and the spaces between them on which music is written - called also stave
    
    staff of life
    
    literary :a basic food especially;  :bread
    
    verb
    
    staffs; staffed; staffing
    
    [+ obj] to supply (an organization or business) with workers
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to work for (an organization or business) as a member of a staff