stockpile

American  

[stok-pahyl] / ˈstɒkˌpaɪl /

noun

1. a supply of material, as a pile of gravel in road maintenance.

2. a large supply of some metal, chemical, food, etc., gathered and held in reserve for use during a shortage or during a period of higher prices.

3. a quantity, as of munitions or weapons, accumulated for possible future use.

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verb (used with object)

stockpiled, stockpiling

1. to accumulate (material, goods, or the like) for future use; put or store in a stockpile.

verb (used without object)

stockpiled, stockpiling

1. to accumulate in a stockpile.

stockpile British  

/ ˈstɒkˌpaɪl /

verb

1. to acquire and store a large quantity of (something)

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noun

1. a large store or supply accumulated for future use

Other Word Forms

• stockpiler noun

Etymology

Origin of stockpile

First recorded in 1915–20; stock + pile ¹

Example Sentences

While Asia has borne the brunt of the effect to date, it is coming to nations with bigger stockpiles of oil that have been able to absorb the shock thus far.

From Barron's

The Filipino government has vowed to stockpile a million more barrels of oil, and has not excluded further measures.

From BBC

Kassis, presumably worried that the arms stockpiles would become unavailable to him, became impatient.

From The Wall Street Journal

They also have to consider preserving stockpiles to cover the range of threats that could arise in the days ahead.

From The Wall Street Journal

The situation has left investors glued to satellite imagery of tanker traffic and estimates of how much oil, gasoline and other petroleum products various countries have stockpiled.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accumulation
• buildup
• cache
• hoard
• inventory
• nest egg
• reserve
• stash
• stock
• surplus