Piles crates or arranges differently (8)
I believe the answer is:
reactors
'piles' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'crates or arranges differently' is the wordplay.
'arranges differently' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'crates'+'or'='cratesor'
'cratesor' with letters rearranged gives 'REACTORS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for reactors that I've seen before include "They work on hot stuff" , "Producers of power" , "Creators of nuclear devices" .)