Word
piles
US/ˈpaɪɫz/
UK/pˈaɪlz/
Definitions
01stacks of things
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. more than one stack of objects placed on top of each other.
n. plural of 'pile'; multiple collections of objects laid one on top of another.
“There were piles of old newspapers in the corner of the garage.”
“The researcher spent the afternoon sorting through disorganized piles of documents that had been left in the archive for decades.”
02a large amount
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Informal
n. a very large amount of something, like money or work.
n. a large quantity or amount; often used as a quantifier in informal contexts.
“He made piles of money when he sold his first company.”
“Despite having piles of work to finish before the weekend, she decided to attend the gallery opening anyway.”
03medical condition
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Medicine Informal
n. swollen veins in the area where waste leaves the body, which can be painful.
n. a medical condition involving swollen veins in the rectum or anus; the common term for haemorrhoids.
“The doctor suggested a special cream to help treat his piles.”
“Chronic constipation is a primary risk factor for the development of piles in older patients.”
Usage
Always used in the plural form.
Teaching tip
While 'haemorrhoids' is the formal medical term, 'piles' is the standard word used in everyday British and American English.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Piles of broken concrete and twisted metal block almost everything.” “Large numbers of Lime bikes were left in piles in London.” Etymology
From Latin pila (“ball”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/piles