(upstairs)

  • 1upstairs — upstairs, upstair Upstairs is the normal form for both the adjective (the upstairs rooms) and the adverb (go upstairs). Upstair (formerly used occasionally as an adjective) is now virtually obsolete …

    Modern English usage

  • 2Upstairs — Up stairs , a. Being above stairs; as, an upstairs room. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3upstairs — 1590s (adj.), from UP (Cf. up) + stairs (see STAIR (Cf. stair)). The noun is first attested 1872. Meaning characteristic of upstairs life (in private rooms of a household, as opposed to servants quarters) is recorded from 1942. He [Halifax] had… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4upstairs — [up′sterz′] adv. 1. up the stairs 2. on or to an upper floor or higher level 3. Informal mentally; in the mind [a person who lacks something upstairs] adj. situated on an upper floor n. an upper floor or floors …

    English World dictionary

  • 5Upstairs — Up*stairs , adv. Up the stairs; in or toward an upper story. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6upstairs — ► ADVERB ▪ on or to an upper floor. ► ADJECTIVE (also upstair) ▪ situated on an upper floor. ► NOUN ▪ an upper floor …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7upstairs — [[t]ʌ̱pste͟ə(r)z[/t]] 1) ADV: ADV after v If you go upstairs in a building, you go up a staircase towards a higher floor. He went upstairs and changed into fresh clothes... I walked upstairs and unlocked my front door. Ant: downstairs 2) ADV: be… …

    English dictionary

  • 8upstairs — up|stairs1 S2 [ˌʌpˈsteəz US ˈsterz] adv towards or on an upper floor in a building ≠ ↑downstairs ▪ I went upstairs and had a shower. ▪ She s upstairs in bed feeling ill. >upstairs adj [only before noun] ▪ an upstairs window ▪ the upstairs… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 9upstairs — /up stairz /, adv., adj., n., pl. upstairs. adv. 1. up the stairs; to or on an upper floor. 2. Informal. in the mind: to be a little weak upstairs. 3. to or at a higher level of authority: You may have to take the matter upstairs. 4. Mil. Slang.… …

    Universalium

  • 10upstairs —    1. an allusion to a taboo act or place    In former times, she s gone upstairs meant that a birth was imminent. An invalid who has been upstairs for two months indicates the duration of his infirmity. Socially, Would you like to go upstairs?… …

    How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms