noun
    
    plural piles
    
    [count] a group of things that are put one on top of another
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    informal
    
    a very large amount of something
    
    
    
    
    
    a large amount of money
    
    
    
    
    
    at the bottom of the pile
    
    in a low or very unimportant position
    
    
    
    
    
    at the top of the pile
    
    in a high or very important position
    
    
    
    
    
    verb
    
    piles; piled; piling
    
    [+ obj] :to put (something) in a pile
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to put a large amount of things on or in (something) - + with
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to put (things or people) inside or on top of something in a quick and careless way - + into or onto
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [no obj] of a group of people, animals, etc. :to enter or get on something (such as a building or vehicle) quickly - + into or onto
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    pile in
    
    [phrasal verb] of a group of people, animals, etc. :to move into a place or vehicle quickly
    
    
    
    pile on
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    pile on (something) :to put a large amount of (something) on something or someone
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    If you pile on the pounds, you gain a lot of weight.
    
    US informal :to join other people in criticizing something or someone in usually an unfair way
    
    
    
    pile out
    
    [phrasal verb] of a group of people, animals, etc. :to move out of a place or a vehicle quickly
    
    
    
    
    
    pile up
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    to increase in amount or number to a total that is difficult to manage
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    noun
    
    a soft surface of short threads on a rug, carpet, etc. [singular]
    
    
    
    
    
    noun
    
    plural piles
    
    [count] :a long stake or pointed post that is pushed into the ground to support something (such as a building) - compare 1pile 3pile