DEFILE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does defile mean? 

• DEFILE (noun)
  The noun DEFILE has 1 sense:

1. a narrow pass (especially one between mountains)

  Familiarity information: DEFILE used as a noun is very rare.

• DEFILE (verb)
  The verb DEFILE has 3 senses:

1. place under suspicion or cast doubt upon

2. make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

3. spot, stain, or pollute

  Familiarity information: DEFILE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEFILE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A narrow pass (especially one between mountains)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

defile; gorge

Hypernyms ("defile" is a kind of...):

mountain pass; notch; pass (the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks)

• DEFILE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they defile    ... he / she / it defiles   
Past simple: defiled   
Past participle: defiled   
-ing form: defiling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

cloud; corrupt; defile; sully; taint

Context example:

sully someone's reputation

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

deflower; impair; mar; spoil; vitiate (make imperfect)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

defile; maculate; stain; sully; tarnish

Context example:

Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

blob; blot; fleck; spot (make a spot or mark onto)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "defile"):

darken (tarnish or stain)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Spot, stain, or pollute

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

befoul; defile; foul; maculate

Context example:

The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame (bring shame or dishonor upon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

defilement (the state of being polluted)

defiler (a person or organization that causes pollution of the environment)

 Context examples 

Whilst Aylward had been speaking, a strong column of archers had defiled through the pass beneath them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I only desired he would lend me two clean shirts, which, having been washed since he wore them, I believed would not so much defile me.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

With my hair cut and a few other superficial changes I shall no doubt reappear at Claridge’s to-morrow as I was before this American stunt—I beg your pardon, Watson, my well of English seems to be permanently defiled—before this American job came my way.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Never, no matter what the circumstance, must he dare to bite the god who was lord and master over him; the body of the lord and master was sacred, not to be defiled by the teeth of such as he.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

It comes from country places, where there was once no harm in it—and it creeps through the dismal streets, defiled and miserable—and it goes away, like my life, to a great sea, that is always troubled—and I feel that I must go with it!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

All night they led their horses, stumbling and groping through wild defiles and rugged valleys, following the guidance of a frightened peasant who was strapped by the wrist to Black Simon's stirrup-leather.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Gloomy defiles or barrancas intersected this wild country with mountain torrents dashing and foaming between their rugged sides.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

So defiling was their presence that a true Cistercian might not raise his eyes to their face or touch their finger-tips under ban of church and fear of deadly sin.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Through this wild country it was that Sir Nigel and his Company pushed their way, riding at times through vast defiles where the brown, gnarled cliffs shot up on either side of them, and the sky was but a long winding blue slit between the clustering lines of box which fringed the lips of the precipices; or, again leading their horses along the narrow and rocky paths worn by the muleteers upon the edges of the chasm, where under their very elbows they could see the white streak which marked the gave which foamed a thousand feet below them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

From the Feast of the Epiphany there was mustering and massing, until, in the first week of February—three days after the White Company joined the army—the word was given for a general advance through the defile of Roncesvalles.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)