upstairs: Meaning and Definition of

up•stairs

Pronunciation: (up'stârz'), [key]
— adv., adj., n., pl. -stairs.
—adv.
  1. up the stairs; to or on an upper floor.
  2. 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. at or to a higher level in the air.
  5. to promote (a person) to a higher position, usually having less authority, in order to be rid of him or her.
—adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, or situated on an upper floor: an upstairs window; an upstairs apartment.
—n.
  1. an upper story or stories; the part of a building or house that is above the ground floor: The upstairs of this house is entirely rented.
  2. a higher command or level of authority: We can't take action till we have approval from upstairs.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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