staircase vs way

staircase

noun
  • A set of locks (enclosed sections of waterway) mounted one above the next. 

  • A flight of stairs; a stairway. 

  • A connected set of flights of stairs; a stairwell. 

verb
  • To modify (a signal, a graph, etc.) to reduce a smooth curve to a series of discrete steps. 

  • To increase one's share in a co-ownership. 

way

noun
  • The timbers of shipyard stocks that slope into the water and along which a ship or large boat is launched. 

  • A roughly-defined geographical area. 

  • The letter for the w sound in Pitman shorthand. 

  • A degree, an amount, a sense. 

  • A tradition within the modern pagan faith of Heathenry, dedication to a specific deity or craft, Way of wyrd, Way of runes, Way of Thor etc. 

  • A state or condition 

  • A road, a direction, a (physical or conceptual) path from one place to another. 

  • A method or manner of doing something; a mannerism. 

  • Acknowledges that a task has been done well, chiefly in expressions of sarcastic congratulation. 

  • Possibility (usually in the phrases 'any way' and 'no way'). 

  • Determined course; resolved mode of action or conduct. 

  • The longitudinal guiding surfaces on the bed of a planer, lathe, etc. along which a table or carriage moves. 

  • A means to enter or leave a place. 

  • Speed, progress, momentum. 

adv
  • Much. 

  • Far. 

  • Very. 

intj
  • yes; it is true; it is possible 

How often have the words staircase and way occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )