stair

noun

ˈster 

1

: a series of steps or flights of steps for passing from one level to another

—often used in plural but singular or plural in construction

a narrow private stairs

—Lewis Mumford

2

: a single step of a stairway

Examples of stair in a Sentence

She ran down the stairs.

He waited at the foot of the stairs.

She slipped and fell down the stairs.

The stairs lead to the roof.

We had to climb another flight of stairs to get to the roof.

He tripped on the bottom stair and almost fell.

Recent Examples on the Web

Follow the Alta Trail back to the stairs leading to the Rodeo Trailhead parking lot. —Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024

Get ready to walk the famous El Mocambo stairs that have appropriately been replaced with names of famous cats. —Miriam Porter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Thus, a certain level of mobility is needed to take stairs and walk the pathways. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024

Taking the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. —Cathy Nelson, Health, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English steir, from Old English stǣger; akin to Old English & Old High German stīgan to rise, Greek steichein to walk

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stair

• stair climber
• stair climbing
• stair stepper

Kids Definition

stair

noun

ˈsta(ə)r 

ˈste(ə)r

1

: a series of steps or flights of steps for passing from one level to another

—often used in plural

ran down the stairs

2

: one step of a stairway