staples
staples — 名詞
- staplessingular
- staplesesplural
1. A small thin wire bent into a U-shape that is pushed through sheets of paper and
訂書針
用來裝訂紙張的細小金屬線
A small thin wire bent into a U-shape that is pushed through sheets of paper and folded flat on the other side to hold the pages together.
Eli pushed two staples through the corner of his report.
Eli 在報告的角落釘了兩根訂書針。
collocation: push staples through [paper]
The photocopier ran out of staples halfway through the big print job.
影印機印到一半就沒訂書針了。
collocation: run out of staples
Sari removed the old staples carefully before shredding the documents.
Sari 在碎掉文件之前仔細地拆掉舊的訂書針。
A single staple held the receipt to the delivery note.
一根訂書針就把收據固定在送貨單上。
The corner of the poster tore where the staple had gone through.
海報的角落從訂書針穿過的地方裂開了。
- paper fastener
a more general term; can include paper clips, which do not pierce the paper
用法筆記
Countable. People often say 'a staple' for one piece and 'staples' for a collection. The tool that pushes staples through paper is called a 'stapler', not a 'staple'.
常見錯誤
2. A metal fastener shaped like the letter U, with pointed ends that is hammered in
U形釘
用來固定鐵絲或纜線的金屬扣環
A metal fastener shaped like the letter U, with pointed ends that is hammered into wood or a wall to keep wires, cables, or fencing held firmly in place.
Ilan hammered staples into the fence posts to hold the chicken wire tight.
Ilan 把 U 形釘敲進籬笆柱子，用來固定鐵絲網。
collocation: hammer staples into [surface]
The electrician used special insulated staples for the new kitchen wiring.
水電師傅用特殊的絕緣 U 形釘來處理廚房的新電線。
Omar pulled the old rusty staples out of the wooden beam one by one.
Omar 把木樑上的生鏽舊 U 形釘一根一根拔出來。
There were six staples holding the rope tight against the barn wall.
有六根 U 形釘把繩子緊緊固定在穀倉的牆上。
The gardener drove a heavy staple into the post with two firm hits.
園丁用兩下重擊就把一根粗 U 形釘打進了柱子裡。
- U-nail
similar fastener, but usually larger and used in heavy construction
- fencing staple
specifically the type used to attach wire fencing to posts
用法筆記
These staples are larger and stronger than paper staples. They are often used outdoors and hammered in rather than pressed with a stapler.
3. A food, product, or activity that forms a basic, regular, and important part of
基本品；要項
某事物中基本且常用的項目
A food, product, or activity that forms a basic, regular, and important part of something — for example, rice as a staple of Asian cooking, or a morning walk as a staple of someone's daily routine.
Rice has been a staple of the local diet for centuries.
米飯幾世紀以來一直是當地的基本主食。
pattern: a staple of [diet/economy/routine]
Sayaka stocked flour, sugar, and other kitchen staples on the top shelf.
Sayaka 把麵粉、糖和其他廚房基本品放在架子最上層。
collocation: kitchen staples / pantry staples
Tourism is now a staple of the island's small economy.
觀光業現在是這座小島經濟的基本產業。
Friday night pizza became a staple of the family's weekly routine.
週五晚上的披薩成了這家人每週的固定要項。
Mira packed tea, dried fruit, and other camp staples for the long hike.
Mira 把茶葉、果乾和其他露營基本品打包好，準備長途健行。
- mainstay
more often used about people or institutions that provide essential support
- cornerstone
more metaphorical; emphasises something fundamental that everything else depends on
- essential
broader — refers to anything necessary, not necessarily a regular item
- luxury
something expensive and not necessary for daily life
文法句型
a staple of [something]
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'a staple of [something]'. When referring to food, 'staple' means a food eaten very regularly, not just any basic food.
常見錯誤
staples — 形容詞
- staplespositive
- more staplescomparative
- most staplessuperlative
1. Forming the most basic, regular, or important part of a set — for example, a sta
主要；基本
最基本、最常見或最重要的
Forming the most basic, regular, or important part of a set — for example, a staple ingredient that appears in most dishes, or a staple topic that comes up in most conversations.
Rice is the staple food in many parts of Asia.
米飯是亞洲許多地區的主要食物。
collocation: staple food / staple diet
Sana's staple breakfast was toast with butter and a boiled egg.
Sana 的基本早餐是吐司配奶油和一顆水煮蛋。
The singer performed her staple hits at every concert on the tour.
那位歌手在巡迴的每一場演唱會都唱她的主要金曲。
Cooking oil is a staple item in every kitchen cupboard.
食用油是每個廚房櫥櫃裡的基本用品。
Mystery novels were Jude's staple reading during the long winter months.
推理小說是 Jude 在漫長冬季裡的主要讀物。
- basic
focuses on the simplest level needed; 'basic training' vs 'staple training' (the latter sounds odd)
- main
highlights what is largest or most important, not necessarily what is regular
- primary
more formal; suggests first in order or rank
- fundamental
more abstract; points to what lies at the very foundation of something
- occasional
happening only sometimes, not regularly
文法句型
staple + [noun]
用法筆記
Always used before a noun. Do not confuse with the noun sense meaning the wire fastener — context makes the difference clear.
常見錯誤
staples — 動詞
- staplespresent simple I / you / we / they
- stapleses3rd person singular
- staplesing-ing form
- staplesedpast simple
1. To join or fix things together using staples — for example, stapling pages into
裝訂；釘住
用訂書針將紙張或物品固定在一起
To join or fix things together using staples — for example, stapling pages into a booklet, or stapling a notice to a board.
Beatriz stapled the pages of her essay before handing it in.
Beatriz 把文章用訂書針裝訂好再交出去。
transitive: staple + [object]
The office worker stapled the invoice to the delivery report.
辦公室職員把發票用訂書針釘在運送報告上。
pattern: staple [A] to [B]
Someone had stapled a poster to the tree outside the café.
有人把一張海報用訂書針釘在咖啡館外面的樹上。
Amira carefully stapled the fabric to the wooden frame.
Amira 小心地把布料用訂書針釘在木框上。
Make sure you staple all four corners of the document.
記得要把文件的四個角都釘好。
- remove
take out the staples; the opposite action
文法句型
staple + [object]
staple + [object] + to + [surface]
staple + [object] + together
用法筆記
Typically used for paper and light materials. For heavier fastening such as fences or cables, people more often say 'hammer in staples' or 'fix with staples' rather than just 'staple'.