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Added 8 October 2026

pile

/paɪl/ noun

Categories: SocietyDescribing WordsUncommon Words

In Latin: cumulus, struēs Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about pile at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A mass of things heaped together; a heap.
  2. A group or list of related items up for consideration, especially in some kind of selection process.
    When we were looking for a new housemate, we put the nice woman on the "maybe" pile, and the annoying guy on the "no" pile.
  3. A mass formed in layers.
    a pile of shot

verb

  1. To lay or throw into a pile or heap; to heap up; to collect into a mass; to accumulate
    They were piling up wood on the wheelbarrow.
  2. To cover with heaps; or in great abundance; to fill or overfill; to load.
    We piled the camel with our loads.
  3. To add something to a great number.

noun

  1. A dart; an arrow.
  2. The head of an arrow or spear.
  3. A large stake, or piece of pointed timber, steel etc., driven into the earth or sea-bed for the support of a building, a pier, or other superstructure, or to form a cofferdam, etc.

verb

  1. To drive piles into; to fill with piles; to strengthen with piles.

Origin

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

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: heapthrongmasslotslewdealmickleplentymucklemintmound

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