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defile

de·file
D d

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [dih-fahyl]
    • /dɪˈfaɪl/
    • /dɪˈfaɪl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [dih-fahyl]
    • /dɪˈfaɪl/

Definitions of defile word

  • verb defile To defile something that people think is important or holy means to do something to it or say something about it which is offensive. 3
  • countable noun defile A defile is a very narrow valley or passage, usually through mountains. 3
  • verb defile to make foul or dirty; pollute 3
  • verb defile to tarnish or sully the brightness of; taint; corrupt 3
  • verb defile to damage or sully (someone's good name, reputation, etc) 3
  • verb defile to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate 3

Information block about the term

Origin of defile

First appearance:

before 1275
One of the 13% oldest English words
1275-1325; Middle English defilen, defelen, alteration of defoilen (by association with filen to file3) < Anglo-French, Old French defouler to trample on, violate; compare Old English befȳlan to befoul

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Defile

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

defile popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 85% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

defile usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for defile

verb defile

  • sully — to soil, stain, or tarnish.
  • debase — To debase something means to reduce its value or quality.
  • degrade — Something that degrades someone causes people to have less respect for them.
  • dishonor — lack or loss of honor; disgraceful or dishonest character or conduct.
  • discolor — to change or spoil the color of; fade or stain.

adjective defile

  • overspread — to spread or diffuse over: A blush of embarrassment overspread his face.
  • worrier — to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.
  • infest — to live in or overrun to an unwanted degree or in a troublesome manner, especially as predatory animals or vermin do: Sharks infested the coastline.
  • filler — an aluminum coin of Hungary, the 100th part of a forint.
  • packer — a group of things wrapped or tied together for easy handling or carrying; a bundle, especially one to be carried on the back of an animal or a person: a mule pack; a hiker's pack.

noun defile

  • pass — to move past; go by: to pass another car on the road.
  • valley — an elongated depression between uplands, hills, or mountains, especially one following the course of a stream.
  • gorge — to swallow, especially greedily.
  • gap — a department in SE France. 2179 sq. mi. (5645 sq. km). Capital: Gap.

Antonyms for defile

verb defile

  • honor — honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: a man of honor.
  • praise — the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.
  • upgrade — an incline going up in the direction of movement.
  • respect — a particular, detail, or point (usually preceded by in): to differ in some respect.
  • clean — Something that is clean is free from dirt or unwanted marks.

Top questions with defile

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See also

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