Pile Meaning and Definition
Pile
Pronunciation
/paɪl/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A heap or accumulation of things, especially of a loose or disordered nature.
Etymology
The word “pile” comes from Old French “pile”, from Latin “pilum”, meaning “bundle” or “heap”.
Usage Notes
Use “pile” to describe a heap or accumulation of things, such as a pile of clothes or a pile of books. Be careful not to confuse with “pile” meaning a vertical structure, such as a pile of bricks.
Additional Information
Piles can be found in various forms, such as a pile of rubble, a pile of wood, or even a pile of garbage. In some contexts, piles can be used to describe a natural accumulation of materials, such as a sand pile or a rock pile.
In other cases, piles can be used to describe a human-made structure, such as a pile of bricks or a pile of boxes. The term can also be used in more abstract senses, such as a pile of emotional baggage or a pile of debt.
Cultural References
In literature, a pile of ashes is a common metaphor for devastation and destruction. In the Bible, the Tower of Babel is described as a great pile of stones.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- High pile
- Low pile
- In a pile
- On a pile
Related Words or Phrases
- Heap
- Accumulation
- Mound
- Bulk
Collocations
- Pile of clothes
- Pile of books
- Pile of rubble
- Pile of bricks
Frequency of Use
Pile is a relatively common word in modern language, used in a variety of contexts, including daily conversations, literature, and poetry.
Common Misspellings
- Peel
- Pilel
- Pail