piles
Britishplural noun
Etymology
Origin of piles
C15: from Latin pilae balls (referring to the appearance of external piles)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She told me that mosquito populations spiked in areas with more human-made mosquito habitat, such as abandoned buildings, unkempt vacant lots, and piles of discarded bulky items.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
Infantino was certain the piles of cash would buy the acquiescence — or at least the silence — of enough members for the plan to go through.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
With piles of rubbish lining the streets of Havana, private firms will be able to operate waste collection and recycling services.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Lava domes develop when thick magma slowly rises to the surface and piles up around a volcanic opening rather than flowing easily away.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
Mom’s eyes grazed over the unmade bed, piles of clothes, and cluttered desk.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
