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defile
1[ dih-fahyl ]
/ dɪˈfaɪl /
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verb (used with object), de·filed, de·fil·ing.
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Origin of defile
1First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defilen, defelen, alteration of defoilen (by association with filen “to defile” (see file3), from Anglo-French, Old French defouler “to trample on, violate”; compare Old English befȳlan “to befoul”
OTHER WORDS FROM defile
de·fil·a·ble, adjectivede·file·ment, nounde·fil·er, nounde·fil·ing·ly, adverbWords nearby defile
deficit financing, deficit spending, de fide, defier, defilade, defile, defiled, defilement, define, defined, defined-benefit
Other definitions for defile (2 of 2)
defile2
[ 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. 2022
How to use defile in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for defile (1 of 2)
defile1
/ (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 of defile
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)
defile2
/ (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
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