VocabauraVOCABAURA

stack

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A pile of similar objects, each directly on top of the last.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

stak
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈstæk

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. heading

    A pile of similar objects, each directly on top of the last.

  2. uk

    A pile of poles or wood, indefinite in quantity.

  3. heading

    A pile of wood containing 108 cubic feet. (~3 m³)

  4. heading

    An orderly pile

  5. heading

    A pile.

  6. heading

    A large pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, larger at the bottom than the top, sometimes covered with thatch.

verb

  1. transitiveby extension

    To arrange or fix to obtain an advantage; to deliberately distort the composition of (an assembly, committee, etc.).

  2. transitiveUSAustraliaslang

    To crash; to fall.

  3. informalintransitive

    To collect precious metal in the form of various small objects such as coins and bars.

  4. transitive

    To arrange in a stack, or to add to an existing stack.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
A2 · Elementary (estimated)
Frequency
Common
Typical Use
General English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: A large pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, larger at the bottom than the top, sometimes covered with thatch.

Used this way, stack is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use stack

  • “I won Jill's last $100 this hand; I stacked her!”verb
  • “Please stack those chairs in the corner.”verb
  • “The Government was accused of stacking the parliamentary committee.”verb

Share your sentence

Write your own example sentence using “stack”. We review each one before it appears.

Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Large

small stack

Number

chimney stack

Other combinations

protocol stackstack framecall stackstack pointerharry stacktom stack

Tap the highlighted word to open its own entry.

Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • stacksnounPlural form

    A large number or amount.

  • stackedadjectiveInflected form

    Arranged in a stack.

  • stackernounInflected form

    A laborer who builds up a stack or pile.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • stack upverbCompound term

    Arrange into piles or stacks.

  • stacked heelnounCompound term

    A heel made of many layers of leather.

  • stack awayverbCompound term

    Keep or lay aside for future use.

  • blow one's stackverbCompound term

    Get very angry and fly into a rage.

  • push-down stacknounCompound term

    A list in which the next item to be removed is the item most recently stored (LIFO).

Use This Word

See how this word sounds in a real sentence.

Ask Vocabaura

Understand the word your way.

What Does It Mean Here?

Words can change meaning depending on context.

Use it yourself

Knowing “stack” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.

Know the meaning? Practice using it in a real situation, free, no credits.

Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.