defile

¹de·file

transitive verb \di-ˈfī(-ə)l, dē-\

de·filedde·fil·ing

Definition of DEFILE

: to make unclean or impure: as

a : to corrupt the purity or perfection of : debase <the countryside defiled by billboards>

b : to violate the chastity of : deflower

c : to make physically unclean especially with something unpleasant or contaminating <boots defiled with blood>

d : to violate the sanctity of : desecrate <defile a sanctuary>

e : sully, dishonor

— de·file·ment \-ˈfī(-ə)l-mənt\ noun

— de·fil·er \-ˈfī-lər\ noun

Origin of DEFILE

Middle English, alteration (influenced by filen to defile, from Old English fȳlan) of defoilen to trample, defile, from Anglo-French defoiller, defuler, to trample, from de- + fuller, foller to trample, literally, to full — more at full

First Known Use: 14th century

²de·file

noun \di-ˈfī(-ə)l, ˈdē-ˌfī(-ə)l\

Definition of DEFILE

: a narrow passage or gorge

Examples of DEFILE

1. <the cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up>

Origin of DEFILE

French défilé, from past participle of défiler

First Known Use: 1685

Related to DEFILE

Synonyms

col, couloir, canyon, flume, gap, gill [British], gorge, gulch, gulf, kloof [South African], linn [chiefly Scottish], notch, pass, ravine, saddle

Related Words

abyss, chasm, cirque, cleft, crevasse, crevice, cwm [chiefly British], fissure; combe (also coombe or coomb) [British], dale, dell, glen, hollow, shut-in, vale, valley; basin, floodplain, kettle; arroyo, barranca (also barranco), coulee, draw, gully (also gulley), gutter, nullah, trench, trough, wadi, wash [West]

³de·file

intransitive verb \di-ˈfī(-ə)l, ˈdē-ˌfī(-ə)l\

de·filedde·fil·ing

Definition of DEFILE

: to march off in a line

Origin of DEFILE

French défiler, from dé- de- + filer to move in a column — more at file

First Known Use: 1705