Stack - Definition and Overview

The word stack can mean several different things:

Noun

• Stack (geology): Coastal landform - A large vertical column of rock in the sea.
• Stack (computing): Data structure - An area in a computer's memory.
• An ordered pile or heap.
• A large pile of hay or straw (hay stack).
• Libraries: Compactly spaced bookshelves used to house large collections of books.
• Aircraft circling an airport while awaiting landing authorisation.
• A large amount of an object.
• A measure of coal or wood equal to 108 cubic feet (~3 m³)
• A pile of rifles or muskets in a cone shape.
• Chimney stack, Smoke stack.
• A vertical pipe, such as the funnel on a ship.
• In category theory, see stack (category theory)

Verb

• To fill or load with a pile of objects.
• To secretly prearrange the order of a pack of cards to benefit a player in a card game.

Definitions modified from Collins English Dictionary, ISBN 0004330781.