noun
haystack
HAY-stak
noun
1
A large stacked pile of hay left out in a field.
"The children loved jumping off the haystack into the loose straw below."
2
A large collection of things through which it is very hard to find one particular item.
"Finding that one email in his inbox was like finding a needle in a haystack."
How to Use Haystack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big mound of hay, or figuratively, an overwhelming pile of stuff to search through.
Common pairings
needle in a haystack
pile of hay into a haystack
Word Forms
haystacks plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “haystack”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children loved jumping off the _____ into the loose straw below.
Etymology
From Middle English hey stak, simply "hay" plus "stack."