PILE

n. & v. --n. 1 a heavy beam driven vertically into the bed of a river, soft ground, etc., to support the foundations of a superstructure. 2 a pointed stake or post. 3 Heraldry a wedge-shaped device. --v.tr. 1 provide with piles. 2 drive (piles) into the ground etc. øpile-driver a machine for driving piles into the ground. pile-dwelling a dwelling built on piles, esp. in a lake. [OE pil f. L pilum javelin]