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Meaning & use

central staircase

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌsentrəl ˈsteəkeɪs/
US/ˌsentrəl ˈsterkeɪs/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    The main set of stairs in a building, usually near the entrance or in the middle.

    Grammar: Countable: a central staircase, two central staircases. Often used with 'the' for the main one in a known building.

    Patterns

    • the central staircase
    • a grand central staircase
    • up/down the central staircase

    Guests walked up the central staircase to the ballroom.

    The museum's central staircase is wide enough for crowds to pass easily.

    From the lobby you can see the central staircase rising through the building.

  2. nouncountable

    A staircase placed in the middle of a space rather than at the side, often as a design feature.

    Grammar: Same countable use; here the focus is on position or design rather than importance.

    Patterns

    • a central staircase in something
    • build/design a central staircase

    The architect put a central staircase in the open-plan office.

    A glass central staircase connects the two floors of the apartment.

Word forms

pluralcentral staircases

Common combinations

walk up the central staircase
We walked up the central staircase to the second floor.
a grand central staircase
The hotel is famous for its grand central staircase.
the central staircase of a building
The central staircase of the library is made of marble.
a sweeping central staircase
A sweeping central staircase leads to the upper gallery.

Synonyms and how they differ

main staircase
Very close in meaning; 'main' stresses importance, while 'central' stresses position in the middle.
grand staircase
Suggests something impressive and decorative, whereas a central staircase may be plain.

Word family

staircase noun
a set of stairs inside a building
stairway noun
a set of stairs, often used for the whole structure
stairs noun
the steps themselves, usually plural

Commonly confused: central staircase or staircase vs. stairwell?

central staircase vs staircase vs. stairwell

A staircase is the stairs themselves; a stairwell is the open space or shaft that contains them.

Practice

Choose the best completion: 'Visitors entered the hall and went up the ___ to the gallery.'

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