Definition of stack
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a large usually conical pile (as of hay, straw, or grain in the sheaf) left standing in the field for storage
2a
: an orderly pile or heap
b
: a large quantity or number
3
: an English unit of measure especially for firewood that is equal to 108 cubic feet
4a
: a number of flues embodied in one structure rising above a roof
b
: a vertical pipe (as to carry off smoke)
c
: the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine
5a
: a structure of bookshelves for compact storage of books
—usually used in plural
b
plural
: a section of a building housing such structures
6
: a pile of poker chips
7a
: a memory or a section of memory in a computer for temporary storage in which the last item stored is the first retrieved
also
: a data structure that simulates a stack
a push-down stack
b
: a computer memory consisting of arrays of memory elements stacked one on top of another
stack
verb
stacked; stacking; stacks
Definition of stack (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: to arrange in a stack : pile
b
: to pile in or on
stacked the table with books stack the dishwasher
2a
: to arrange secretly for cheating
stack a deck of cards
b
: to arrange or fix so as to make a particular result likely
the odds are stacked against us will stack juries to suit themselves— Patrice Horn
3a
: to assign (an airplane) by radio to a particular altitude and position within a group circling before landing
b
: to put into a waiting line
another dozen rigs are stacked up and waiting— P. H. Hutchins, Jr.
4
: compare
—used with against such a crime is nothing when stacked against a murder— Pete Censky
: to form a stack
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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The first known use of stack was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century