piles: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Medical (primary sense); Informal (quantitative sense); Technical (construction sense)
Quick answer
What does “piles” mean?
A medical condition where veins in and around the anus become swollen and inflamed (haemorrhoids).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition where veins in and around the anus become swollen and inflamed (haemorrhoids).
Informal: A large quantity or heap of something, often untidy. Also, the structural supports driven into the ground to support a building or bridge.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Piles' (medical) is slightly more common in UK English, where 'haemorrhoids' is the formal term. In US English, 'hemorrhoids' is the dominant formal term.
Connotations
In both varieties, the medical term has an informal, slightly embarrassed connotation. The quantitative sense is neutral.
Frequency
The medical sense is more frequent in everyday UK English. The construction sense is equally technical in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “piles” in a Sentence
suffer from + pileshave + pilesa pile/piles of + [uncountable noun]a pile/piles of + [plural countable noun]drive + piles + into + groundVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'We're at the bottom of the pile for funding.'
Academic
Technical (construction/geotechnical engineering): 'The building's stability depends on driven piles.' Medical literature uses 'haemorrhoids'.
Everyday
Common for the medical condition and for describing untidy quantities: 'I've got piles of laundry to do.'
Technical
Construction/engineering: 'Friction piles transfer load to the soil.' Medicine: 'Grade III internal piles.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “piles”
- Using a plural verb incorrectly with the medical condition: 'Piles are painful' (less common) vs. 'Piles is a common issue' (medical register).
- Confusing 'piles' (supports) with 'piles' (quantities) in technical writing.
- Misspelling as 'pyles'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is the common, informal term. The formal medical term is 'haemorrhoids' (UK) or 'hemorrhoids' (US).
Typically no. It is a plural noun. However, in medical descriptions, it is sometimes treated as a singular condition (e.g., 'Piles is treatable').
'A pile' is a single heap or stack. 'Piles' can mean multiple heaps, the medical condition, or multiple structural supports. Context is key.
No, all meanings are pronounced identically: /paɪlz/.
A medical condition where veins in and around the anus become swollen and inflamed (haemorrhoids).
Piles: in British English it is pronounced /paɪlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /paɪlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “at the bottom of the pile”
- “make a/your pile”
- “pile on the agony”
- “pile it on”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a painful condition that makes you feel like you're sitting on a pile of discomfort.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS A PHYSICAL HEAP (a pile of work), SUPPORT IS A VERTICAL COLUMN (concrete piles), ILLNESS IS A BURDEN (suffering from piles).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'piles' NOT refer to a large amount?