pile

I

[[t]paɪl[/t]]

n. v. piled, pil•ing

1) an assemblage of things laid or lying one upon the other:

a pile of papers[/ex]

2) inf a large number, quantity, or amount of anything:

a pile of work[/ex]

3) a heap of wood on which a dead body, a living person, or a sacrifice is burned; pyre

4) a lofty or large building or group of buildings:

the noble pile of Windsor Castle[/ex]

5) inf Informal. a large accumulation of money

6) phs

reactor 3)

7) elm

voltaic pile

8) to lay or dispose in a pile:

to pile up leaves[/ex]

9) to accumulate or store (often fol. by up):

to pile up money[/ex]

10) to cover or load with a pile

11) to accumulate, as money, debts, evidence, etc. (usu. fol. by up)

12) inf to move as a group in a more or less disorderly cluster

13) to gather or rise in a pile (often fol. by up)

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Etymology: 1350–1400; < MF < L pīla pillar, mole of stone II

pile

[[t]paɪl[/t]] n. v. piled, pil•ing

1) a cylindrical or flat member of wood, steel, concrete, etc., hammered vertically into soil to form part of a foundation or retaining wall

2) her a triangular heraldic charge

3) spo the sharp head or striking end of an arrow

4) to drive piles into

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Etymology: bef. 1000; ME; OE pīl shaft < L pīlum javelin III

pile

[[t]paɪl[/t]] n.

1) zool. clo a surface or thickness of soft hair, down, wool, or other pelage

2) tex a soft or brushy surface on cloth, rugs, etc., formed by upright yarns that have been cut straight across or left standing in loops

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Etymology: 1300–50; ME piles hair, plumage < L pilus hair piled, adj. IV

pile

[[t]paɪl[/t]] n. Usu., piles.

pat

hemorrhoid

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Etymology: 1375–1425; late ME pyles (pl.) < L pilae lit., balls. See pill