pileupˈpileup, pile-up noun [countable] 
Examples
a motorway pile-up► see thesaurus at accident
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- a multiple pile-up involving a minibus and five cars
- Slick roads caused a six-car pile-up along Highway 30.
- The pile-up happened in thick fog and caused a seven-mile tailback on the motorway.
- Beyond, a glimpse of carnage - the pile-up on the southbound lane resembled a scrap metal yard.
- But the sensational pile-up re-emphasised that any horse could win the National and revitalised public interest.
- In another accident two people were taken to hospital after a three-car pile-up on the A350, near Chippenham, in Wilts.
- Killed in a pile-up on the M25 on her way home from the airport.
- Later a 30-vehicle pile-up shut the M62 near Humberside.
- No wonder there were pile-ups on the autobahn.
- Or it could be just an old fashioned pile-up.
- Several people were injured in a 12-vehicle pile-up on the M25 near Wisley, Surrey.
THESAURUS► accident
Collocations an event in which a vehicle is damaged and often someone is hurt: · Her father died in a car accident.· Hugh had an accident on his way to work.
► crash a serious accident in which a vehicle hits something else: · Rees-Jones was the only person to survive the crash.· a car/plane/train crash· He was killed in a plane crash.
► collision an accident in which two or more cars, trains etc hit each other: · His car was involved in a collision with a train.a head-on collision (=between vehicles that are driving towards each other): · The actor was killed in a head-on collision while driving his new sports car.
► disaster a serious accident involving a train, plane, or boat, in which a lot of people are killed or injured: · It was Britain’s worst air disaster.
► wreck American English an accident in which a car or train is badly damaged: · Ben nearly died in a car wreck.
► pileup an accident that involves several cars or trucks: · The pileup happened in thick fog.· There was a 12-car pileup on the motorway.
► fender-bender, prang American English informal British English informal a car accident in which little damage is done: · Atkinson was involved in a fender-bender in the hotel parking lot.· At 15, he borrowed his parents’ car and had a prang.
Longman Language Activatorin a car, train, plane etc► accident · The accident happened on Interstate 84, during the evening rush hour.· Brussels airport was closed today after an accident on the runway.have an accident · Teenage boys tend to drive wildly and often have accidents.bad/nasty/serious accident · As usual, the fog and icy roads had led to several very nasty accidents.fatal accident · Men have twice as many fatal accidents as women do for every mile they drive.car/road/traffic accident · Both her parents had been killed in a car accident.auto/automobile accident American · She was in an automobile accident, but she's not seriously hurt.
► crash an accident in which a vehicle or plane hits something violently and is damaged or destroyed: · Ira Louvin was killed in a crash in Montana that also took the lives of six other people.car/plane/train crash: · Her husband died in a plane crash in 1981.
► wreck American an accident involving cars or other vehicles: · Nobody could have survived the wreck.
► pile-up a serious road accident in which many cars or other vehicles crash into each other: · The pile-up happened in thick fog and caused a seven-mile tailback on the motorway.multiple pile-up British (=a pile up involving a large number of cars): · a multiple pile-up involving a minibus and five cars
► disaster a very serious accident involving a train, plane, or ship, in which many people are killed: · The city has emergency plans for dealing with a major disaster such as a rail crash.air/rail disaster: · At least 264 people died, in one of the worst civilian air disasters of all time.the Lockerbie disaster/the Challenger disaster etc: · The Challenger disaster cost the lives of seven astronauts, and set back the nation's space program for years.
► collision an accident in which two or more vehicles, planes, or ships hit each other: collision with: · A school bus has been involved in a collision with a fuel tanker.mid-air collision (=between two planes in the air): · The risk of a mid-air collision over central London has increased dramatically.head-on collision (=between two vehicles moving directly towards each other): · These airbags are designed to protect car drivers in head-on collisions.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a motorway pileup
a traffic accident involving many vehicles: (=when several cars on a motorway crash into each other)· a news report of a motorway pileup on the M25
a motorway pile-up► see thesaurus at accident