pile
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1pile
noun \ˈpī(-ə)l\Definition of PILE
1
: a long slender column usually of timber, steel, or reinforced concrete driven into the ground to carry a vertical load
2
: a wedge-shaped heraldic charge usually placed vertically with the broad end up
3
a : a target-shooting arrowhead without cutting edges b [Latin pilum] : an ancient Roman foot soldier's heavy javelin
Origin of PILE
Middle English, dart, quill, pole driven into the ground, from Old English pīl, from Latin pilum javelin
First Known Use: 12th century
Other Civil Engineering Terms
2pile
transitive verbpiledpil·ing
Definition of PILE
: to drive piles into
First Known Use of PILE
15th century
Other Civil Engineering Terms
3pile
verbpiledpil·ing
Definition of PILE
transitive verb
1
: to lay or place in a pile : stack
2
a : to heap in abundance : load <piled potatoes on his plate> b : to collect little by little into a mass —usually used with up
intransitive verb
1
: to form a pile or accumulation —usually used with up
2
: to move or press forward in or as if in a mass : crowd <piled into a car>
Origin of PILE
Middle English, from 4pile
First Known Use: 14th century
4pile
nounDefinition of PILE
1
a (1) : a quantity of things heaped together (2) : a heap of wood for burning a corpse or a sacrifice b : any great number or quantity : lot
2
: a large building or group of buildings
3
: a great amount of money : fortune
4
: reactor 3b
Origin of PILE
Middle English pier of a bridge, stack, heap, from Middle French pille pier of a bridge, from Latin pila pillar
First Known Use: 15th century
5pile
nounDefinition of PILE
1
: a coat or surface of usually short close fine furry hairs
2
: a velvety surface produced by an extra set of filling yarns that form raised loops which are cut and sheared
— pile·less \ˈpī(-ə)l-ləs\ adjective
Origin of PILE
Middle English, from Anglo-French peil, pil hair, coat with thick nap, from Latin pilus hair
First Known Use: 15th century
6pile
nounDefinition of PILE
1
: a single hemorrhoid
2
plural : hemorrhoids
Origin of PILE
Middle English pilez, plural, from Medieval Latin pili, perhaps from Latin pila ball
First Known Use: 15th century
pile
noun \ˈpī(ə)l\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of PILE
1
: a single hemorrhoid
2
piles pl : hemorrhoids; also : the condition of one affected with hemorrhoids
pile
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)In building construction, a postlike foundation member used from prehistoric times. Piles transfer building loads down to a suitable bearing stratum when the soil mass immediately below a construction is unsuitable for the direct bearing of footings (see foundation). Piles support loads either by bearing directly on rock or suitable soil or by developing friction along their very ample length. In modern civil engineering, piles of timber, steel, or concrete are driven into the ground to support a structure; bridge piers and building foundations may be supported on groups of piles.
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