stockpile

¹stock·pile

noun \ˈstäk-ˌpī(-ə)l\

Definition of STOCKPILE

: a storage pile: as

a : a reserve supply of something essential accumulated within a country for use during a shortage

b : a gradually accumulated reserve of something <avert stockpiles of unsold cars — Bert Pierce>

Examples of STOCKPILE

1. a stockpile of medical supplies
2. <an emergency stockpile of potable water and canned goods in the cellar>

First Known Use of STOCKPILE

1872

Related to STOCKPILE

Synonyms

cache, stash, hoard, store

Related Words

coffers, deposit, funds, nest egg, savings, sinking fund, treasure; inventory, pool, reserve, reservoir, stock; provisions, resources; accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, harvest; repertory

²stockpile

transitive verb

Definition of STOCKPILE

1

: to place or store in or on a stockpile

2

: to accumulate a stockpile of <a country suspected of stockpiling weapons>

— stock·pil·er noun

Examples of STOCKPILE

1. The government stockpiled vaccines to prepare for a flu epidemic.
2. <we should be able to stockpile enough vaccine for the upcoming flu season>

First Known Use of STOCKPILE

1921

Related to STOCKPILE

Synonyms

cache, lay away, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, squirrel (away), stash, hoard, store, stow, treasure

Related Words

accumulate, acquire, amass, assemble, collect, concentrate, garner, gather, pick up, round up, scrape (together); heap, pile, stack; conserve, husband, preserve; bank, coffer, deposit, hold, keep, reserve, retain, save, set by, stock, withhold; bury, conceal, ensconce, secrete

Near Antonyms

cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, throw away, throw out, unload; consume, squander, use up, waste; hand out, hand over, relinquish, surrender; blow, dissipate, fritter (away), lavish, misspend, run through, spend; deplete, exhaust, expend, impoverish; dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter