pileus
/ˈpɪliəs/
"pileus" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“pileus” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 6
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The cap of a mushroom.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | pileus |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈpɪliəs/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “pileus” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for pileus is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɪliəs/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
pileus has no tracked misspelling variants, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.
Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin pīleus, a form of pilleus (“a felt cap”). The correct English form is pileus, spelled P-I-L-E-U-S.
Definition
- 1The cap of a mushroom.
- 2The bell of a jellyfish.
- 3A small thin cloud attached to a cumulus cloud.
- 4A conical felt hat worn in Ancient Rome and Greece.
- 5The top of the head of a bird, from the bill to the nape.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin pīleus, a form of pilleus (“a felt cap”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “pileus”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is P-I-L-E-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈpɪliəs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.