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1. Necessary or important, especially regarding food or commodities
   "wheat is a staple crop"

1. (usually in the plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
   - basic
    
2. A natural fibre (raw cotton, wool, hemp, flax) that can be twisted to form yarn
   "staple fibers vary widely in length";
   - staple fiber [US], staple fibre [Brit, Cdn]
    
3. Material suitable for manufacture, use or finishing
   - raw material
    
4. A short U-shaped wire nail
    
5. Paper fastener consisting of a short length of U-shaped wire that can fasten papers together

1. Secure or fasten with a staple or staples
   "staple the papers together"

Derived forms: stapling, staples, stapled

See also: essential

Type of: commodity, fasten, fix, good, material, nail, natural fiber [US], natural fibre [Brit, Cdn], paper fastener, secure, stuff, trade good

Antonym: unstaple

Encyclopedia: Staple, Nord