[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/staff/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / staff # staff noun (staff — the people; a staff, staffs — a stick) «staff» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. The staff are all the people who work for a school, shop, hospital or company. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#m1) 2. A staff is a long, strong stick used for walking or carried as a sign of power. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#m2) 3. In music, the staff (or stave) is the set of five lines that notes are written on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#m3) ### In the lessons In school life the staff are the teachers, assistants, office workers and caretakers; «staff room» is the room where teachers rest; «ask a member of staff» is the safe thing to do if you are lost or hurt in a shop or museum. In music lessons notes sit on the five lines of the staff. In fairy tales a wizard or shepherd carries a staff. ### Examples - The school staff had a meeting after lessons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x1) - Ask a member of staff if you need help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x2) - The hospital staff were very kind to Grandma. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x3) - Teachers drink tea in the staff room. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x4) - The old shepherd leaned on his wooden staff. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x5) - The wizard raised his staff and the lights went out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x6) - Draw a treble clef at the start of the staff. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x7) - The shop is short of staff today. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x8) - Suddenly the door opened, and an ancient dame leaning on a staff hobbled out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/#x9) ### Note As a group of workers, «staff» has no usual plural: «the staff are» (UK) or «the staff is» (US); one person is «a member of staff» or «a staff member». The stick plural is «staffs» or old-fashioned «staves». Staff is a group word, so «20 staff» means 20 people. ## In Jewish tradition It means a walking stick or rod carried by a shepherd or ruler, as a sign of power. "Staff of bread" means the supply of bread that supports life. The Prophets and Psalms use "staff" as a figure for power: God breaks the staff of the wicked, and Assyria is called the rod and staff of God's anger. "Breaking the staff of bread" is the figure for famine. **Interpretation.** Moses' staff was used for wonders in Egypt. A ruler's staff in Jacob's blessing of Judah is read by tradition as a sign of the kingship coming from Judah, and eventually the Messiah. Isaiah's words are read as teaching that even mighty empires are only tools in God's hand. ### Examples - And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff. (Torah NUM.22.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x1) - The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, as long as men come to Shiloh; and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be. (Torah GEN.49.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x2) - When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread again by weight; and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. (Torah LEV.26.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x3) - The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers, (Prophets ISA.14.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x4) - And He called a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. (Writings PSA.105.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x5) - O Asshur, the rod of Mine anger, in whose hand as a staff is Mine indignation! (Prophets ISA.10.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x6) ### Note As a group of workers, «staff» has no usual plural: «the staff are» (UK) or «the staff is» (US); one person is «a member of staff» or «a staff member». The stick plural is «staffs» or old-fashioned «staves». Staff is a group word, so «20 staff» means 20 people. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «staff» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/staff/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«staff» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/staff.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «staff» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«staff» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/staff.html) on Mova free.