staff

Staff is a term used to describe the group of people employed by an organization, institution, or enterprise. It is also used as a collective noun referring to the personnel as a whole. The staff may include administrative, technical, professional, and support roles, and in many contexts organizations distinguish between staff and management. In British English, sentences often treat the staff as a plural entity (the staff are), while American English sometimes treats it as a singular entity (the staff is). The concept can extend to volunteers or contractors who contribute to the organization’s work.

Beyond people, staff can refer to a long, solid rod used for support or guidance. A walking staff or shepherd's staff provides stability when moving, while a ceremonial staff, sometimes called a baton or mace, may symbolize authority or office in rituals and formal events.

In music, a staff or stave is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces on which musical notation is written. Notes appear on the lines or in the spaces, indicating pitch and duration. A group of two staves connected by a brace forms the grand staff, commonly used for piano music and some vocal scores.