defile
1[ dih-fahyl ]
/ dɪˈfaɪl /
verb (used with object), de·filed, de·fil·ing.
to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase.
to violate the chastity of.
to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate.
to sully, as a person's reputation.
Nearby words
deficit, deficit financing, deficit spending, defier, defilade, defile, define, defined, defined-benefit, definiendum, definiens
Origin of defile
11275–1325; Middle English defilen, defelen, alteration of defoilen (by association with filen to file3) < Anglo-French, Old French defouler to trample on, violate; compare Old English befȳlan to befoul
Related forms
Definition for defile (2 of 2)
defile
2[ dih-fahyl, dee-fahyl ]
/ dɪˈfaɪl, ˈdi faɪl /
noun
any narrow passage, especially between mountains.
verb (used without object), de·filed, de·fil·ing.
to march in a line or by files.
Origin of defile
2Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for defile
British Dictionary definitions for defile (1 of 2)
defile
1/ (dɪˈfaɪl) /
verb (tr)
to make foul or dirty; pollute
to tarnish or sully the brightness of; taint; corrupt
to damage or sully (someone's good name, reputation, etc)
to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate
to violate the chastity of
Derived Forms
defilement, noundefiler, nounWord Origin for defile
C14: from earlier defoilen (influenced by filen to file ³), from Old French defouler to trample underfoot, abuse, from de- + fouler to tread upon; see full ²
British Dictionary definitions for defile (2 of 2)
defile
2/ (ˈdiːfaɪl, dɪˈfaɪl) /
noun
a narrow pass or gorge, esp one between two mountains
a single file of soldiers, etc
verb
mainly military to march or cause to march in single file
Word Origin for defile
C17: 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 & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012