# stave

/ˈsteɪv/ (US) · /stˈeɪv/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stave
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

one of the long, thin pieces of wood that form the side of a barrel or bucket. It can also mean the five lines that music is written on.

For teachers: one of the narrow strips of wood placed side by side to form the body of a barrel, cask, or tub; also refers to the set of five horizontal lines and four spaces used in musical notation.

## Examples

- The cooper carefully shaped each wooden stave for the wine barrel.
- The musician noticed a mistake on the third stave of the sheet music and corrected it with a pencil.
- As the barrel aged, one stave began to warp, creating a small gap that allowed the spirit to evaporate more quickly than the rest of the batch.

## Usage notes

- In musical contexts, 'staff' is the more common term in American English, while 'stave' is frequently used in British English.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.