'Defile' definitions:

Definition of 'defile'

(from WordNet)
noun
A narrow pass (especially one between mountains) [syn: defile, gorge]
verb
Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation" [syn: defile, sully, corrupt, taint, cloud]
verb
Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; 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" [syn: tarnish, stain, maculate, sully, defile]
verb
Spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it" [syn: foul, befoul, defile, maculate]

Definition of 'Defile'

From: GCIDE
  • Defile \De*file"\, v. t. (Mil.) Same as Defilade. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Defile'

From: GCIDE
  • Defile \De*file"\ (d[-e]*f[imac]l"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defiled (d[-e]*f[imac]ld"); 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Defile'

From: GCIDE
  • Defile \De*file"\ (d[-e]*f[imac]l" or d[=e]"f[imac]l; 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Mil.) The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Defile'

From: GCIDE
  • Defile \De*file"\ (d[-e]*f[imac]l"), 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. [1913 Webster]
  • They that touch pitch will be defiled. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. [1913 Webster]
  • He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To injure in purity of character; to corrupt. [1913 Webster]
  • Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. --Ezek. xx. 7. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate; to rape. [1913 Webster]
  • The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. --Prior. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. [1913 Webster]
  • That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith. --Lev. xxii. 8. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Defile'