pile
1. pile \'pi-(*)l\ n [ME, dart, stake, fr. OE pi-l; akin to OHG pfi-l dart;
both f] [L pilum]r. a prehistoric WGmc word borrowed fr. L pilum javelin -
more at PESTLE 1: a long slender member usu. of timber, steel, or
reinforced concrete driv en into the ground to carry a vertical load 2: a
wedge-shaped heraldic charge usu. placed vertically with the broad end up
3a: a target-shooting arrowhead without cutting edges 3b: an ancient Roman
foot soldier's heavy javelin
2. pile vt : to drive piles into
3. pile n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L pila] 1a1: a quantity of things heaped
together 1a2: a heap of wood for burning a corpse or a sacrifice : PYRE
1b: any great number or quantity : LOT 2: a large building or group of
buildings 3: a great amount of money : FORTUNE 4a: a vertical series of
alternate disks of two dissimilar metals (as coppe r and zinc) with disks
of cloth or paper moistened with an electrolyte between them for producing
a current of electricity 4b: a battery made up of cells similarly
constructed 5: REACTOR
4. pile vt 1: to lay or place in a pile : STACK 2: to heap in abundance :
LOAD 1: to form a pile : ACCUMULATE 2: to move or press forward in or as
if in a mass : CROWD {pi led into a car}
5. pile n [ME, fr. L pilus hair; akin to L pila ball, pilleus, pileu]s felt
cap, Gk pilos 1: a coat or surface of usu. short close fine furry hairs 2:
a velvety surface produced by an extra set of filling yarns that form ra
ised loops which are cut and sheared
6. pile n [ME, fr. L pila ball] 1: a single hemorrhoid pl 2: HEMORRHOIDS;
also : the condition of one affected with hem orrhoids