1 [treated as singular or plural] all the people employed by a particular organization:a staff of 600hospital staff were not to blame
the teachers in a school or college: [as modifier]:a staff meeting
2 [treated as singular or plural] a group of officers assisting an officer in command of an army formation or administration headquarters:the Polish General and his staff [as modifier]:after the Second World War he took up a string of staff appointments
3a long stick used as a support when walking or climbing or as a weapon:a shepherd’s staff figurativehe adopted literature as the staff of his pilgrimage
a rod or sceptre held as a sign of office or authority.
provide (an organization, business, etc.) with staff:legal advice centres are staffed by volunteer lawyers (as adjective staffed)all units are fully staffed
