stapler
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈeɪplə/
US
- /ˈsteɪpələr/
- /ˈsteɪplər/
Description
- Paper fastener
- Desk tool
- Holds pages together
- Uses metal staples
- Hand or electric
A stapler is a common desk tool that helps keep papers together. With one quick click, it pushes a small metal staple through a group of pages and bends it so the pages stay joined. It turns loose sheets into one neat set, which is why people use it so often at school, at home, and in the office.
Most people picture the standard desk version, used for reports, homework, forms, or receipts. There are also stronger models for thicker stacks, and larger handheld types are used for jobs like crafts, packing, or upholstery. It is a simple tool, but it plays an important part in everyday work and organization.
A stapler is a mechanical device used to join sheets of paper or other materials together by driving a thin metal staple through them and bending the ends to secure the bond. While seemingly basic, the history of the stapler stretches back quite far; early mechanical versions were patented in the 19th century, though history suggests that even King Louis XV of France used a handmade, personalized stapler in the 1700s!
Today, we most commonly associate staplers with office environments. They come in various forms: standard desktop models, plier-style staplers that offer more leverage for handheld use, and electric or cordless options for high-volume tasks. The size of the staples used varies significantly depending on the thickness and density of the material being fastened.
Beyond the office desk, staplers also appear in more specialized settings. In construction and upholstery, heavy-duty staple guns are used to secure fabric, insulation, or thin pieces of wood. In medicine, surgical staplers can close wounds or internal cuts quickly and evenly. These tools work on the same basic idea: a shaped metal fastener is pushed through material to hold it in place.
So, next time you reach for that small tool on your desk, remember that it does one job very well: it keeps separate pieces together. Whether it is holding a school project in order, sorting office papers, or helping with a practical job in another field, a stapler is all about making loose materials stay connected.
Examples
- 1
Office supplies
There should be a stapler in the top drawer if you need to attach those forms.
- 2
Borrowing
Can I borrow your stapler for a minute?
- 3
Workplace problem
The stapler is jammed again, so the papers keep coming loose.
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- staplernoun
Forms
- staplerspluralnoun