staple

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a basic food or product that people use or buy regularly.

n. a principal commodity or essential item of consumption within a population or economy.

“Rice and beans are a staple of the local diet in many countries.”

“During the economic crisis, the price of bread and other dietary staples rose sharply, affecting the most vulnerable households.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Technical

n. the length and quality of a natural fiber like wool or cotton.

n. the length and quality of individual fibers of wool, cotton, or flax, which determines the grade of the material.

“The wool has a long staple, which makes it very easy to spin into yarn.”

“The merchant inspected the cotton's staple length to determine if it was suitable for high-end garment manufacturing.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. a small shaft that connects different levels in a mine.

n. a secondary shaft, typically shorter than the main shaft, used to connect different working levels within a mine.

“The miners used the staple to move equipment between the two tunnels.”

“Engineers reinforced the staple to ensure safe transit between the primary vein and the lower drainage gallery.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. describing something that is a main part of something else.

adj. constituting a main or principal element of a system, diet, or industry.

“Action movies are a staple part of the summer cinema schedule.”

“The staple industries of the region, namely coal and steel, faced significant decline during the late twentieth century.”