staircase

Everyday

1. A staircase is a set of steps going up from one floor to another, often with a rail to hold. tree →
2. A spiral staircase goes round and round. tree →

In the lessons

Maths: steps counted, steps per floor; climbing up and down; staircase patterns of blocks. Safety: hold the handrail, do not run on the stairs. Stories: a grand staircase in a castle, a secret staircase.

Examples

• The staircase has 15 steps. tree →
• Each floor has a staircase of 18 steps. tree →
• How many steps are there to the 4th floor? tree →
• She climbs the staircase 3 times a day. tree →
• Hold the rail when you go down the staircase. tree →
• The lighthouse has a long spiral staircase. tree →
• The castle had a hidden staircase behind the wall. tree →
• All the princesses disappeared down a secret staircase, and Michael hastily followed them. tree →

Note

Countable: a staircase, staircases; also «stairs». Steps per staircase × staircases = steps. Trap: to reach the 4th floor from the 1st you climb 3 staircases, not 4. Trap: in the UK the ground floor is not counted as the first floor.