pile
UK: paɪl | US: paɪl
n. a heap of things laid or lying one on top of another
n. a large quantity of something
vt. to place or stack in a pile
The word "pile" traces back to Latin pila, meaning "ball" or "mass," reflecting its early association with rounded heaps or stacked objects. Over time, it evolved in Old French as pile (a pier or heap of stones) before entering Middle English with its current meaning of an accumulated stack. The logic of its progression lies in the visual and functional similarity between ancient stone pillars and modern heaps of objects.
She stacked the books in a neat pile on the desk.
There was a pile of laundry waiting to be washed.
Workers piled the sandbags to prevent flooding.
He faced a pile of paperwork after his vacation.
The children jumped into a pile of leaves.