ˈfæ.kəl.ti stɑːf stɑːf steɪv provide with staff This position is not always staffed serve on the staff of The two men staff the reception desk a strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose he walked with the help of a wooden staff (music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written a rod carried as a symbol the body of teachers and administrators at a school the dean addressed the letter to the entire staff of the university personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task the hospital has an excellent nursing staff the general relied on his staff to make routine decisions building material consisting of plaster and hair; used to cover external surfaces of temporary structure (as at an exposition) or for decoration