pile

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a lot of something, especially a large amount of money.

n. a large quantity or amount of something; in informal contexts, specifically a significant sum of money.

“He made a pile of money when he sold his first company.”

“After years of careful investing, she had accumulated quite a pile and was able to retire early.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Architecture Technical

n. a long, strong post driven into the ground to support a building.

n. a heavy beam of wood, concrete, or steel driven vertically into the earth as a foundation for a structure.

“The engineers had to drive deep piles into the soft mud to support the bridge.”

“The skyscraper required steel piles driven down to the bedrock to ensure stability against seismic activity.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the soft, hairy surface of a carpet or cloth.

n. the surface of a fabric consisting of many small threads or loops standing up from the base.

“The thick pile of the new carpet felt wonderful under my bare feet.”

“The velvet was of such high quality that the pile remained upright even after years of heavy use.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to put things one on top of another.

v. to accumulate or stack items into a heap; often used with 'up'.

“She began to pile the books onto the shelves in alphabetical order.”

“The workers continued to pile the bricks in the yard, preparing for the next phase of construction.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to move together in a group, often in a hurried or messy way.

v. to move in a crowded, disorganized, or hurried fashion; frequently used with 'in' or 'out'.

“As soon as the doors opened, the children started to pile into the classroom.”

“The commuters began to pile out of the train as soon as it reached the platform, eager to reach their offices.”