stack

stack [stak]

n.

[ME stac < ON stakkr, akin to MLowG stack, barrier of slanting stakes: for IE base see STICK]

1. a large pile of straw, hay, etc., esp. one neatly arranged, as in a conical form, for outdoor storage

2. any somewhat orderly pile or heap, as of boxes, books, poker chips, etc.

3. a number of arms, esp. three rifles, leaning against one another on end so as to form a pyramid

4. Brit. a unit of measure for firewood or coal, equal to 108 cubic feet

5.

a) a number of chimney flues or pipes arranged together

b) SMOKESTACK

☆ 6. [pl.]

a) an extensive series of bookshelves

b) the main area where books are shelved in a library

c) the part of a computer memory used to store data temporarily: retrieval of data from it is in reverse order to its storage

d) the data so stored

7. Informal a large number or amount

vt.

1. to pile or arrange in a stack

2. to load with stacks of something

3. to assign (aircraft) to various altitudes for circling while awaiting a turn to land

4. to arrange in advance underhandedly so as to predetermine the outcome [to stack a jury]

vi.

to form a stack

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☆ stack the cards or stack the deck

1. to arrange the order of playing cards secretly so that certain cards are dealt to certain players

2. to prearrange circumstances, usually secretly and unfairly

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stack up

1. to add up; accumulate

2. to stand in comparison (with or against); measure up

stackable

adj.

stacker

n.