stack
Stack (noun) means a pile of things placed neatly one on top of another. Example: “He balanced a stack of plates on one arm.”
How to use stack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThings piled on top of each other — or, in tech, a particular way of storing and retrieving data or software layers.
In casual speech "to stack" can also mean to crash (e.g. a bike), which can confuse readers expecting the "pile up" sense.
Word forms
stacked past tense, stacks plural, stacks singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He balanced a _____ of plates on one arm.
Etymology
From Old Norse stakkr, meaning a haystack or heap; the computing sense is a much later, figurative extension of the same "pile" idea.
Related words
Rhymes for stack
See all rhymes for stack →Frequently asked questions
What does “stack” mean?
The word “stack” means a pile of things placed neatly one on top of another. In plain terms, things piled on top of each other — or, in tech, a particular way of storing and retrieving data or software layers.
How do you pronounce “stack”?
“Stack” is pronounced stak (/stæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “stack” in a sentence?
Here is “stack” used in a sentence: “He balanced a stack of plates on one arm.”
What part of speech is “stack”?
Depending on how it is used, “stack” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stack” come from?
The word “stack” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse stakkr, meaning a haystack or heap; the computing sense is a much later, figurative extension of the same "pile" idea.
Is “stack” a common word?
“Stack” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “stack” have?
“Stack” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pile of things placed neatly one on top of another.
What is the difference between a "stack" and a "pile"?
A stack is orderly: things placed neatly one on top of another, like a stack of plates or books. A pile can be any heap, tidy or not. Every stack is a pile, but a jumbled pile of laundry is not a stack.
What is the difference between a stack and a queue in programming?
A stack is a data structure where the last item added is the first one removed — "last in, first out," like lifting the top plate from a pile. A queue is the reverse: the first item added is the first removed, "first in, first out," like a line of people waiting.
Is "stacks" a slang term for money?
Yes. Informally, a "stack" is a large sum of money, and "stacks" means plenty of it: "she's making stacks." In US slang a stack is often understood more precisely as a thousand dollars, though everyday use usually just means a lot of cash.
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