v. i. | 1. | To march off in a line, file by file; to file off. |
v. t. | 1. | (Mil.) Same as Defilade. |
n. | 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. | |
v. t. | 1. | To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute. |
2. | To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. | |
3. | To injure in purity of character; to corrupt. | |
4. | To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate; to rape. | |
5. | To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. |
Noun | 1. | defile - a narrow pass (especially one between mountains) Synonyms: gorge |
Verb | 1. | defile - place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation" |
2. | defile - 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" | |
3. | defile - spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it" |