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Adjective: understaffed  ,ún-du(r)'stãft
  1. Inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.
    "overcrowded and understaffed hospitals";
    - short-handed, short-staffed, undermanned
Noun: staff  stãf
  1. 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"
     
  2. A strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose
    "he walked with the help of a wooden staff"
     
  3. The body of teachers and administrators at a school
    "the dean addressed the letter to the entire staff of the university";
    - faculty [N. Amer]
     
  4. Building material consisting of plaster and hair; used to cover external surfaces of temporary structure (as at an exposition) or for decoration
     
  5. A rod carried as a symbol
     
  6. (music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written
    - stave
Verb: staff  stãf
  1. Provide with staff
    "This position is not always staffed"
     
  2. Serve on the staff of
    "The two men staff the reception desk"

See also: inadequate, unequal

Type of: body, building material, cater, force, musical notation, personnel, ply, provide, serve, stick, supply, symbol

Part of: school

Encyclopedia: Staff, Pastoral