noun
pile
The soft raised fibers on fabric or carpet.
The rug has a thick, soft pile that cushions bare feet.
Etymology
Latin pilus means hair. The textile sense compares the raised fibers covering a fabric’s surface to a coat of hair.
More examples
- Brush the velvet gently in the direction of the pile.
- Heavy foot traffic has flattened the carpet's pile.
- Crumbs are easier to vacuum from a rug with short pile.
Similar words
- nap
- Usually a shorter, finer raised surface, especially on cloth.