staircase
/ˈsteəkeɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsterkeɪs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈster-ˌkās/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsteə.keɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈster.keɪs/ (ame, ipa)
staircase — noun
- staircasesingular
- staircasesplural
1. a set of steps inside a building that connects one floor to another, often with
a set of steps inside a building that connects one floor to another, often with a handrail attached to a wall or posts
The children ran up the marble staircase to the second floor.
collocation: marble / wooden / stone staircase
Tomás held the handrail as he walked down the narrow staircase in the dark.
typical object: handrail + staircase
A wide wooden staircase led from the entrance hall up to the living areas.
The old library had a spiral staircase that connected the ground floor to the mezzanine.
Élise stood at the foot of the staircase calling up to her brother.
- stairs
more common in everyday speech; 'stairs' can refer to a single flight while 'staircase' emphasises the whole structure including the banister and frame
- stairway
slightly more formal; often used in signs and public buildings
- stairwell
specifically the vertical shaft or space in a building that contains the staircase
文法句型
a/an + staircase
the + staircase
staircase + of + noun
常見錯誤
staircase — verb
- staircasepresent simple I / you / we / they
- staircases3rd person singular
- staircasing-ing form
- staircasedpast simple
1. to buy additional portions of a shared-ownership property over time, gradually i
to buy additional portions of a shared-ownership property over time, gradually increasing the percentage you own until you may reach full ownership
After five years in a shared-ownership flat, Dario decided to staircase by buying another 15% share from the housing association.
intransitive use: staircase by + [amount]
Hamza is saving £200 each month so that he can staircase to full ownership of his shared-ownership flat by 2028.
staircase to + [ownership level]
Under the council's shared-ownership scheme, tenants in the new development can staircase up to 100% ownership over fifteen years.
The Riverside Housing Association sent residents a step-by-step guide explaining how to staircase on their shared-ownership flats.
- increase equity
general term for owning a larger share; less specific to shared-ownership housing
- buy out shares
informal; means purchasing the co-owner's portion, not necessarily gradually
- sell down
to reduce your ownership share by selling part of it
文法句型
staircase (up) to [percentage]
staircase on [property]
staircase + preposition: into/up
用法筆記
This is a specialised term used in UK shared-ownership property schemes. It is almost never used in American English. The noun form 'staircasing' is more common than the verb form, e.g. 'The government introduced new rules on staircasing.' Do not confuse with the noun 'staircase' (a set of stairs).