Definition of defile
defiled
;defiling
transitive verb
: to make unclean or impure: such asa : to corrupt the purity or perfection of : debase the countryside defiled by billboardsb : to violate the chastity or virginity of : deflowerc : to make physically unclean especially with something unpleasant or contaminating boots defiled with blood … I had never allowed anyone to smoke in the truck. Drunk as I was, I knew that I was betraying something by allowing him to defile the truck's interior. — Patrick Moored : to violate the sanctity of : desecrate defile a sanctuary went to jail for costuming themselves in the American flag and thus defiling it — James R. Gainese : sully, dishonor defile his reputation
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Origin and Etymology 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: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of defile
Definition of defile
geology
: a narrow passage (as between hills, rocks, or cliffs) : 1gorge … come to us from a narrow defile in the Pennine Alps between Switzerland and Italy, a place called the Great St. Bernard Pass. — Michael Olmert
Examples of defile in a sentence
the cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up
Origin and Etymology of defile
French défilé, from past participle of défiler —see 3defile
First Known Use: 1685
Definition of defile
defiled
;defiling
military
intransitive verb
: to march off in a line … breaks out into a brave and glorious descripion of the forces, as they defiled through the principal gate of the city … — Washington Irving
Origin and Etymology of defile
French défiler, from dé- de- + filer to move in a column — more at file
First Known Use: 1705
DEFILE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of defile for English Language Learners
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: a narrow passage through mountains
Law Dictionary
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for defile Spanish Central: Translation of defile Nglish: Translation of defile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of defile for Arabic speakers
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