file

1
[ fahyl ]
/ faɪl /

noun

verb (used with object), filed, fil·ing.

verb (used without object), filed, fil·ing.

to march in a file or line, one after another, as soldiers: The parade filed past endlessly.
to make application: to file for a civil-service job.

Idioms for file

    on file, arranged in order for convenient reference; in a file: The names are on file in the office.

Origin of file

1
1425–75; late Middle English filen < Middle French filer to string documents on a thread or wire, Old French: to wind or spin thread < Late Latin fīlāre, verbal derivative of Latin fīlum thread, string

OTHER WORDS FROM file

file·a·ble, adjective fil·er, noun non·fil·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH file

file phial

Definition for file (2 of 4)

file 2
[ fahyl ]
/ faɪl /

noun

a long, narrow tool of steel or other metal having a series of ridges or points on its surfaces for reducing or smoothing surfaces of metal, wood, etc.
a small, similar tool for trimming and cleaning fingernails; nail file.
British Slang. a cunning, shrewd, or artful person.

verb (used with object), filed, fil·ing.

to reduce, smooth, or remove with or as if with a file.

Origin of file

2
before 900; Middle English; Old English fīl, fēol; cognate with German Feile; akin to Greek pikrós sharp

OTHER WORDS FROM file

file·a·ble, adjective fil·er, noun

Definition for file (3 of 4)

file 3
[ fahyl ]
/ faɪl /

verb (used with object), filed, fil·ing. Archaic.

to defile; corrupt.

Origin of file

3
before 1000; Middle English; Old English fȳlan to befoul, defile, derivative of fūl foul

Definition for file (4 of 4)

filé
[ fi-ley, fee-ley ]
/ fɪˈleɪ, ˈfi leɪ /

noun New Orleans Cookery.

a powder made from the ground leaves of the sassafras tree, used as a thickener and to impart a pungent taste to soups, gumbos, and other dishes.
Also called filé powder.

Origin of filé

1800–10, Americanism; < Louisiana French; literally, twisted, ropy, stringy (perhaps orig. applied to dishes thickened with the powder), past participle of French filer; see file1

Example sentences from the Web for file

British Dictionary definitions for file (1 of 3)

file 1
/ (faɪl) /

noun

verb

Derived forms of file

filer, noun

Word Origin for file

C16 (in the sense: string on which documents are hung): from Old French filer, from Medieval Latin fīlāre; see filament

British Dictionary definitions for file (2 of 3)

file 2
/ (faɪl) /

noun

a hand tool consisting essentially of a steel blade with small cutting teeth on some or all of its faces. It is used for shaping or smoothing metal, wood, etc
rare, British slang a cunning or deceitful person

verb

(tr) to shape or smooth (a surface) with a file

Derived forms of file

filer, noun

Word Origin for file

Old English fīl; related to Old Saxon fīla, Old High German fīhala file, Greek pikros bitter, sharp

British Dictionary definitions for file (3 of 3)

file 3
/ (faɪl) /

verb

(tr) obsolete to pollute or defile

Word Origin for file

Old English fӯlan; related to Middle Low German vülen; see defile 1, filth, foul

Scientific definitions for file

file
[ fīl ]

A collection of related data or program records stored as a unit with a single name. Files are the basic units that a computer works with in storing and retrieving data.

Idioms and Phrases with file

file

see in single file; on file; rank and file.