Definitions for: Defile


[n] a narrow pass (especially one between mountains)
[v] spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it"
[v] make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air, of metals; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"
[v] place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation"



Webster (1913) Definition: De*file", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defiled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Defiling.] [F. d['e]filer; pref. d['e]-, for des- (L.
dis-) + file a row or line. See File a row.]
To march off in a line, file by file; to file off.


De*file", v. t. (Mil.)
Same as Defilade.


De*file" (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. d['e]fil['e], fr.
d['e]filer to defile.]
1. Any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only
in a file, or with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass
between hills, rocks, etc.

2. (Mil.) The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the
exterior works in order to protect the interior. See
Defilade.


De*file", v. t. [OE. defoulen, -foilen, to tread down,
OF. defouler; de- + fouler to trample (see Full, v. t.),
and OE. defoulen to foul (influenced in form by the older
verb defoilen). See File to defile, Foul, Defoul.]
1. To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to
befoul; to pollute.

They that touch pitch will be defiled. --Shak.

2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint.

He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age,
however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty
hands. --Swift.

3. To injure in purity of character; to corrupt.

Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt.
--Ezek. xx. 7.

4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate.

The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. --Prior.

5. To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute.

That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts,
he shall not eat to defile therewith. --Lev. xxii.
8.

Synonyms: befoul, cloud, corrupt, foul, gorge, maculate, maculate, sully, taint, tarnish

See Also: attaint, blob, blot, darken, deflower, disgrace, dishonor, dishonour, fleck, impair, mar, mountain pass, notch, pass, shame, spoil, spot, vitiate

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