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pile

n. · v.
US //ˈpaɪɫ// UK //pˈaɪl// pile
  1. 1 a heap (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a number of things put on top of each other in a messy way.

    a mass of objects heaped together; a disorganized accumulation.

    Example

    There was a huge pile of dirty laundry on the bedroom floor.

    Example

    A disorganized pile of documents sat on the corner of his desk, threatening to spill over at the slightest breeze.
  2. 2 a large amount (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    After years of careful investing, she had accumulated quite a pile and was able to retire early.
    • pittance
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 foundation post (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Architecture

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The skyscraper required steel piles driven down to the bedrock to ensure stability against seismic activity.
  2. 4 fabric surface (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the soft, hairy surface of a carpet or cloth.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The velvet was of such high quality that the pile remained upright even after years of heavy use.
  3. 5 to heap up (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to put things one on top of another.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The workers continued to pile the bricks in the yard, preparing for the next phase of construction.
  4. 6 to move in a group (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The commuters began to pile out of the train as soon as it reached the platform, eager to reach their offices.
Etymology 1

From Middle English pyle, from Old French pile, from Latin pīla (“pillar, pier”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English pile, from Old English pīl, from Proto-West Germanic *pīl, from Latin pīlum (“heavy javelin”). Cognate with Dutch pijl, German Pfeil. Doublet of pilum.

Etymology 3

Apparently from Late Latin pilus. Doublet of pilus.

Etymology 4

From Middle English pile, partly from Anglo-Norman pil (a variant of peil, poil (“hair”)) and partly from its source, Latin pilus (“hair”). Doublet of pilus.

Etymology 5

From French pile (“battery”), with the pronunciation adapted to the existing English word pile. Doublet of Etymology 1, which may have influenced the sense development by emphasizing the stack (“pile”) out of which early batteries were made.

Word family
Idioms2 entries

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