Phrase guide

Penrose stairs

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An impossible loop of endlessly ascending and descending stairs, or an optical illusion appearing to depict such a loop.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, plural-only

Examples

  • For quotations using this term, see Citations:Penrose stairs.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

After a drawing by Lionel Penrose and Roger Penrose.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: Penrosen portaat — endless staircase
  • German: unmögliche Treppe — endless staircase
  • Japanese: ペンローズ階段 (Penrōzu kaidan) — endless staircase
  • Swedish: Penroses trappa — endless staircase