# stack

/ˈstæk/ (US) · /stˈæk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stack
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. a pile

noun · CEFR B1

a neat pile of objects, usually placed one on top of another.

For teachers: an orderly pile or heap of items, typically arranged vertically.

- He left a tall stack of newspapers on the kitchen table.
- A precarious stack of dusty journals occupied the corner of the office, threatening to topple at the slightest vibration.

### 2. a large amount

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a large quantity of something.

For teachers: a significant or large amount of something; often used in the plural.

- Don't worry about the cost; I've got stacks of money in my savings account.
- The researchers spent the weekend reviewing stacks of data before the final presentation on Monday morning.

### 3. a chimney

noun · CEFR B2

a tall vertical pipe or chimney that lets out smoke or steam.

For teachers: a tall chimney or vertical exhaust pipe, especially on a factory, ship, or locomotive.

- Thick black smoke poured from the factory stack into the grey sky.
- The industrial landscape was dominated by massive concrete stacks that vented steam into the cold morning air.

### 4. library shelves

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the area in a library where many rows of books are kept.

For teachers: the main storage area of a library, consisting of numerous rows of bookshelves.

- I spent the afternoon wandering through the library stacks looking for a rare history book.
- Access to the closed stacks is restricted to faculty members and graduate students conducting primary research.

### 5. computing data structure

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a way of storing computer data where the last item put in is the first one taken out.

For teachers: a last-in, first-out (LIFO) data structure used in programming for temporary storage and task management.

- The program crashed because the stack was full of too many temporary files.
- The developer implemented a stack to manage the undo history, ensuring the most recent action was always the first to be reversed.

### 7. to cheat or manipulate

verb · CEFR B2

to arrange something, like a deck of cards, in a dishonest way to get an advantage.

For teachers: to manipulate the order of something, such as a deck of cards or a committee, to ensure a specific outcome.

- It felt like the odds were stacked against us from the very beginning.
- The opposition accused the governor of stacking the committee with his own supporters to guarantee the bill's passage.

Usage: Commonly used in the passive voice as 'the odds are stacked against someone'.

Teaching tip: Explain the idiom 'to stack the deck' as a metaphor for creating an unfair situation.

## Examples

- He left a tall stack of papers on my desk.
- The librarian spent the afternoon organizing a messy stack of returned books into their proper categories.
- The architect designed the library with a central stack of shelves that rises through all four floors, creating a vertical spine of knowledge visible from the street.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.