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staircase

n. · v.
US //ˈstɛɹˌkeɪs// UK //stˈeəkeɪs// stair·case
  1. 1 stairs in a building (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a set of stairs inside a building that you use to go from one floor to another.

    a series of steps and their supporting structure, including the banisters and landings, used for vertical circulation within a building.

    Example

    The hotel has a beautiful wooden staircase that leads up to the guest rooms.

    Example

    The grand marble staircase served as the architectural centrepiece of the foyer, sweeping upwards in a graceful curve toward the gallery.
  2. 2 canal locks (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    a series of locks on a canal that are built one after another like steps.

    a series of canal locks where the lower gate of one lock serves as the upper gate of the next, allowing boats to change elevation.

    Example

    It took the boat nearly two hours to pass through the five-lock staircase.

    Example

    The engineering team inspected the staircase locks to ensure the masonry could withstand the increased water pressure during the spring floods.
    • lock flight
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  1. 3 to change a signal (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    to change a smooth line or signal into a series of sharp steps.

    to modify a continuous signal or mathematical curve into a discrete series of steps or increments.

    Example

    The software will staircase the data to make it easier to read on the chart.

    Example

    By staircasing the analogue input, the processor can more effectively categorise the voltage fluctuations into distinct digital states.
Origin

Middle English stair + case, attested around 1620. The two elements have held their shape in English for four centuries.

Idioms2 entries

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