STAIRS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stairs mean? 

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

1. a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• STAIRS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A flight of stairs or a flight of steps

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

stairs; steps

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

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

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

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

ladder (steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down)

 Context examples 

This happens when walking or climbing stairs.

(Peripheral Arterial Disease, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

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

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He drew his sword as he spoke and darted down the winding stairs, closely followed by his four comrades.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Entreating him, therefore, to remain a few minutes at the bottom of the stairs, I darted up towards my own room.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

"We must consult as to what is to be done," he said as we descended the stairs.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being able to call on them the next day, took leave.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

A question about whether an individual has or had difficulty standing from a seated position or walking up stairs.

(Have Difficulty Standing from a Seated Position or Walking Up Stairs, NCI Thesaurus)

“Where is my wife? I must tell her that all is well. Hilda! Hilda!” we heard his voice on the stairs.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He started for the companion stairs, but turned his head for a final word.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"Mrs. Fairfax!" I called out: for I now heard her descending the great stairs.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)