file

[ fahyl ]

/ faɪl /

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See synonyms for: file / filed / files / filing on Thesaurus.com

noun

a folder, cabinet, or other container in which papers, letters, etc., are arranged in convenient order for storage or reference.

a collection of papers, records, etc., arranged in convenient order: to make a file for a new account.

Computers. a collection of related data or program records stored on some input/output or auxiliary storage medium: This program's main purpose is to update the customer master file.

a line of persons or things arranged one behind another (distinguished from rank¹ def. 10).

Military.

a person in front of or behind another in a military formation.
one step on a promotion list.

one of the vertical lines of squares on a chessboard.

a list or roll.

a string or wire on which papers are strung for preservation and reference.

verb (used with object), filed, fil·ing.

to place in a file.

to arrange (papers, records, etc.) in convenient order for storage or reference.

Journalism.

to arrange (copy) in the proper order for transmittal by wire.
to transmit (copy), as by wire or telephone: He filed copy from Madrid all through the war.

verb (used without object), filed, fil·ing.

to march in a file or line, one after another, as soldiers: The parade filed past endlessly.

to make application: to file for a civil-service job.

OTHER WORDS FOR file

10 classify, label, catalog, index, list, categorize.

See synonyms for file on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about file

on file, arranged in order for convenient reference; in a file: The names are on file in the office.

Origin of file

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb filen, from Middle French filer “to string documents on a thread or wire,” Old French: “to wind or spin thread,” from Vulgar Latin fīlāre “to wind or spin thread,” from the Latin noun fīlum “a string, thread”; the English noun is derived from the verb

OTHER WORDS FROM file

file·a·ble, adjectivefiler, nounnon·fil·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH file

file , phial

Other definitions for file (2 of 4)

file²

[ fahyl ]

/ faɪl /

noun

a long, narrow tool of steel or other metal having a series of ridges or points on its surfaces for reducing or smoothing surfaces of metal, wood, etc.

a small, similar tool for trimming and cleaning fingernails; nail file.

British Slang. a cunning, shrewd, or artful person.

verb (used with object), filed, fil·ing.

to reduce, smooth, or remove with or as if with a file.

Origin of file

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English fīl, fēol; cognate with German Feile; akin to Slavic (Polish) piła “saw”

OTHER WORDS FROM file

file·a·ble, adjectivefiler, noun

Other definitions for file (3 of 4)

file³

[ fahyl ]

/ faɪl /

verb (used with object), filed, fil·ing.Archaic.

to defile; corrupt.

Origin of file

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English fȳlan “to befoul, defile,” derivative of fūl foul

Other definitions for file (4 of 4)

filé

[ fi-ley, fee-ley ]

/ fɪˈleɪ, ˈfi leɪ /

noun New Orleans Cooking.

a powder made from the ground leaves of the sassafras tree, used as a thickener and to impart a pungent taste to soups, gumbos, and other dishes.

Also called filé powder .

Origin of filé

1800–10, Americanism;<Louisiana French; literally, twisted, ropy, stringy (perhaps originally applied to dishes thickened with the powder), past participle of French filer;see file¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use file in a sentence

Did he go to the authorities to file a report against the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel?
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Did the airline file a flight plan that took account of the weather en route from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore?
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With 3D printing you can continue to use the file and update.
3-D Printing Is Changing the Future of Prosthetics|Lucy Vernasco|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Asked what kind of support he got from rank-and-file Democrats, he paused before replying with a hearty laugh.
Repubs Should Take It From Kucinich: Impeachment Isn’t Worth It|Eleanor Clift|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She also told TMZ that she plans to file a civil suit against Cosby.
Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004|Marlow Stern|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As each company front formed the knees of the rank and file seemed to give way.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
If Wee Willie Winkie took an interest in anyone, the fortunate man was envied alike by the mess and the rank and file.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
Not for twenty necklaces and a whole file of hieroglyphic passes would she doubt Frank any more.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
The sides of the notch were steep, and the boys rode through it in single file, Matt taking the lead.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
At random, I select four names from the printed list, and the new jurors file into the box.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman

British Dictionary definitions for file (1 of 3)

file¹

/ (faɪl) /

noun

a folder, box, etc, used to keep documents or other items in order

the documents, etc, kept in this way

documents or information about a specific subject, person, etcwe have a file on every known thief

an orderly line or row

a line of people in marching formation, one behind anotherCompare rank 1 (def. 6)

any of the eight vertical rows of squares on a chessboard

computing a named collection of information, in the form of text, programs, graphics, etc, held on a permanent storage device such as a magnetic disk

obsolete a list or catalogue

Canadian a group of problems or responsibilities, esp in government, associated with a particular topicthe environment file

on file recorded or catalogued for reference, as in a file

verb

to place (a document, letter, etc) in a file

(tr) to put on record, esp to place (a legal document) on public or official record; register

(tr) to bring (a suit, esp a divorce suit) in a court of law

(tr) to submit (copy) to a newspaper or news agency

(intr) to march or walk in a file or filesthe ants filed down the hill

Derived forms of file

filer, noun

Word Origin for file

C16 (in the sense: string on which documents are hung): from Old French filer, from Medieval Latin fīlāre; see filament

British Dictionary definitions for file (2 of 3)

file²

/ (faɪl) /

noun

a hand tool consisting essentially of a steel blade with small cutting teeth on some or all of its faces. It is used for shaping or smoothing metal, wood, etc

rare, British slang a cunning or deceitful person

verb

(tr) to shape or smooth (a surface) with a file

Derived forms of file

filer, noun

Word Origin for file

Old English fīl; related to Old Saxon fīla, Old High German fīhala file, Greek pikros bitter, sharp

British Dictionary definitions for file (3 of 3)

file³

/ (faɪl) /

verb

(tr) obsolete to pollute or defile

Word Origin for file

Old English fӯlan; related to Middle Low German vülen; see defile 1, filth, foul

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

Scientific definitions for file

file

[ fīl ]

A collection of related data or program records stored as a unit with a single name. Files are the basic units that a computer works with in storing and retrieving data.

Other Idioms and Phrases with file

file

see in single file; on file; rank and file.

file

OTHER WORDS FOR file

Idioms about file

Origin of file

OTHER WORDS FROM file

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH file

Other definitions for file (2 of 4)

Origin of file

OTHER WORDS FROM file

Other definitions for file (3 of 4)

Origin of file

Other definitions for file (4 of 4)

Origin of filé

Words related to file

How to use file in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for file (1 of 3)

Derived forms of file

Word Origin for file

British Dictionary definitions for file (2 of 3)

Derived forms of file

Word Origin for file

British Dictionary definitions for file (3 of 3)

Word Origin for file

Scientific definitions for file

Other Idioms and Phrases with file