Stairway, staircase, stairwell, flight of stairs, or simply stairs are names for a construction designed to bridge a large vertical distance by dividing it into smaller vertical distances, called steps. Stairs may be straight, round, or may consist of two or more straight pieces connected at angles.
Special types of stairs include escalators and ladders. Some alternatives to stairs are elevators (UK: lifts), stairlifts and inclined moving walkways as well as stationary inclined sidewalks (UK: pavements).
Read more about Stairs: Ergonomics and Building Code Requirements, USA Building Regulations, UK Building Regulations, Forms, Notable Sets of Stairs, Image in Art, Gallery
Famous quotes containing the word stairs:
“I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go down stairs five miles or more; & if he don’t attain the bottom, why, all the lead in Galena can’t fashion the plummet that will.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“For in all the world there are no people so piteous and forlorn as those who are forced to eat the bitter bread of dependency in their old age, and find how steep are the stairs of another man’s house. Wherever they go they know themselves unwelcome. Wherever they are, they feel themselves a burden. There is no humiliation of the spirit they are not forced to endure. Their hearts are scarred all over with the stabs from cruel and callous speeches.”
—Dorothy Dix (1861–1951)
“If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs ...
Love for sale.”
—Cole Porter (1893–1964)