de·file 1 (d -f l )
tr.v. de·filed, de·fil·ing, de·files
1. To make filthy or dirty; pollute: defile a river with sewage.
2. To debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt: a country landscape that was defiled by urban sprawl.
3. To profane or sully (a reputation, for example).
4. To make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate: defile a temple.
5. To violate the chastity of.
[Middle English defilen, alteration (influenced by filen, to befoul, from Old English f
 lan; see p - in Indo-European roots) of defoulen, to trample on, abuse, pollute, from Old French defouler, to trample, full cloth : de-,de- + fouler, to trample, beat down; see full2.]
de·file
ment n.
de·fil
er n.
de·fil
ing·ly adv. |
| de·file 2 (d-fl)
intr.v. de·filed, de·fil·ing, de·files
To march in single file or in files or columns.
n.
1. A narrow gorge or pass that restricts lateral movement, as of troops.
2. A march in a line.
[French défiler : dé-, away, off (from Old French de-; see de-) + file, line, file (from Old French filer, to spin thread, march in line; see file1). N., from French défilé, from past participle of défiler.]
|
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
defile1
vb (tr)
1. to make foul or dirty; pollute
2. to tarnish or sully the brightness of; taint; corrupt
3. to damage or sully (someone's good name, reputation, etc.)
4. to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate
5. to violate the chastity of
[from earlier defoilen (influenced by filen to file3), from Old French defouler to trample underfoot, abuse, from de- + fouler to tread upon; see full2]
defilement n
defiler n
defile2
n
1. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) a narrow pass or gorge, esp one between two mountains
2. (Military) a single file of soldiers, etc.
vb
(Military) Chiefly military to march or cause to march in single file
[from French défilé, from défiler to file off, from filer to march in a column, from Old French: to spin, from fil thread, from Latin fīlum]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
de•file1 (dɪˈfaɪl)
v.t. -filed, -fil•ing.
1. to make foul, dirty, or unclean.
2. to violate the chastity of.
3. to desecrate.
4. to sully, as a person's reputation.
[1275–1325; < Old French defouler to trample on, violate]
de•file′ment, n.
de•fil′er, n.
de•fil′ing•ly, adv.
de•file2 (dɪˈfaɪl, ˈdi faɪl) n., v. -filed, -fil•ing. n.
1. a narrow passage, esp. between mountains.
v.i.
2. to march in a line or by files.
[1675–85; < French défilé, n. use of past participle of défiler to file off; see defilade]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Thesaurus Legend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  defile - a narrow pass (especially one between mountains)
mountain pass, notch, pass - the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks; "we got through the pass before it started to snow"
|
| Verb | 1. | defile - place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation" |
| 2. | defile - make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"
darken - tarnish or stain; "a scandal that darkened the family's good name"
| |
| 3. |  defile - spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it"
|
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
defile
verb
1. degrade, stain, disgrace, sully, debase, dishonour, besmirch, smirch He felt his father's memory had been defiled by the article.
2. desecrate, violate, contaminate, abuse, pollute, profane, dishonour, despoil, treat sacrilegiously Who gave you permission to defile this sacred place?
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
