staircase
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a set of stairs inside a building that you use to go from one floor to another.
n.a series of steps and their supporting structure, including the banisters and landings, used for vertical circulation within a building.
Simple“The hotel has a beautiful wooden staircase that leads up to the guest rooms.”
In context“The grand marble staircase served as the architectural centrepiece of the foyer, sweeping upwards in a graceful curve toward the gallery.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a series of locks on a canal that are built one after another like steps.
n.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.
Simple“It took the boat nearly two hours to pass through the five-lock staircase.”
In context“The engineering team inspected the staircase locks to ensure the masonry could withstand the increased water pressure during the spring floods.”
Synonymslock flight - 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to change a smooth line or signal into a series of sharp steps.
v.to modify a continuous signal or mathematical curve into a discrete series of steps or increments.
Simple“The software will staircase the data to make it easier to read on the chart.”
In context“By staircasing the analogue input, the processor can more effectively categorise the voltage fluctuations into distinct digital states.”
Middle English stair + case, attested around 1620. The two elements have held their shape in English for four centuries.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.