stack

The definition of a stack is a somewhat orderly pile.

(noun)

An example of a stack is nine books sitting on a table, one on top of another.

To stack is to arrange in a pile.

(verb)

An example of to stack is to pile up pieces of firewood into a compact space.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See stack in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a large pile of straw, hay, etc., esp. one neatly arranged, as in a conical form, for outdoor storage
  2. any somewhat orderly pile or heap, as of boxes, books, poker chips, etc.
  3. a number of arms, esp. three rifles, leaning against one another on end so as to form a pyramid
  4. Brit. a unit of measure for firewood or coal, equal to 108 cubic feet
    1. a number of chimney flues or pipes arranged together
    2. smokestack
    1. an extensive series of bookshelves
    2. the main area where books are shelved in a library
    1. the part of a computer memory used to store data temporarily: retrieval of data from it is in reverse order to its storage
    2. the data so stored
  5. Informal a large number or amount

Origin: ME stac < ON stakkr, akin to MLowG stack, barrier of slanting stakes: for IE base see stick

transitive verb

  1. to pile or arrange in a stack
  2. to load with stacks of something
  3. to assign (aircraft) to various altitudes for circling while awaiting a turn to land
  4. to arrange in advance underhandedly so as to predetermine the outcome: to stack a jury

intransitive verb

to form a stack

Related Forms:

See stack in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A large, usually conical pile of straw or fodder arranged for outdoor storage.
  2. An orderly pile, especially one arranged in layers. See Synonyms at heap.
  3. Computer Science A section of memory and its associated registers used for temporary storage of information in which the item most recently stored is the first to be retrieved.
  4. A group of three rifles supporting each other, butt downward and forming a cone.
  5. a. A chimney or flue.
    b. A group of chimneys arranged together.
  6. A vertical exhaust pipe, as on a ship or locomotive.
  7. An extensive arrangement of bookshelves. Often used in the plural.
  8. stacks The area of a library in which most of the books are shelved.
  9. A stackup.
  10. An English measure of coal or cut wood, equal to 108 cubic feet (3.06 cubic meters).
  11. Informal A large quantity: a stack of work to do.
verb stacked, stack·ing, stacks
verb, transitive
  1. To arrange in a stack; pile.
  2. To load or cover with stacks or piles: stacked the dishwasher.
  3. a. Games To prearrange the order of (a deck of cards) so as to increase the chance of winning.
    b. To prearrange or fix unfairly so as to favor a particular outcome: tried to stack the jury.
  4. To direct (aircraft) to circle at different altitudes while waiting to land.
verb, intransitive
To form a stack.
Phrasal Verb: stack up Informal To measure up or equal: Their gift doesn't stack up against his. To make sense; add up: Her report just doesn't stack up.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English stac

Origin: , from Old Norse stakkr

.

Related Forms:

  • stackˈa·ble adjective
  • stackˈer noun

Learn more about stack

link/cite print suggestion box