ENGLISH
REFERENCE

piles

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //ˈpaɪɫz// UK //pˈaɪlz// piles Informal

n. swollen and painful veins in the area where waste leaves your body. People often use this word when they find the medical name too formal or difficult to say.

n. swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anus that cause discomfort and bleeding. An informal term for hemorrhoids, typically used in British English and common speech.


SIMPLE

Sitting for too long can sometimes make piles worse.

CONTEXTUAL

He went to the pharmacy to buy some cream to help soothe his piles after a long week of travel.

COMPLEX

While the condition is rarely discussed in polite conversation, piles affect a significant portion of the adult population and are often treated with simple dietary changes or over-the-counter ointments.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin pila (“ball”).

Usage

Usually used in the plural form when referring to the medical condition.

Pitfall

he has a pilehe has pilesWhen referring to the medical condition, the word is almost always used in the plural.

Idioms3 entries

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