pileup

American  

[pahyl-uhp] / ˈpaɪlˌʌp /

Or pile-up

noun

1. a massive collision of several or many moving vehicles.

2. an accumulation, as of work, chores, or bills.

3. a rough or disorderly falling of people upon one another, as in a football game.

---

Etymology

Origin of pileup

First recorded in 1825–35; noun use of verb phrase pile up

Example Sentences

Lindsey believes a pileup in delays could be enough to spur a broader market correction.

From The Wall Street Journal

In my family, birthdays arrive in a cheerful pileup.

From Salon

A three-mile stretch of Highway 99 was closed for more than five hours Saturday after dense fog led to a massive vehicle pileup in Tulare County, about 40 miles north of Bakersfield.

From Los Angeles Times

A main reason his residence has survived his fluctuations in fame is that it was conceived as an indivisible work, not just a pileup of expensive objects.

From The Wall Street Journal

Taking the train, in theory, allows her to avoid any traffic jams — or, even worse, pileups that some states have experienced in recent days.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• accumulation