Library / English Dictionary

DEFILE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A narrow pass (especially one between mountains)

Synonyms:

defile; gorge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("defile" is a kind of...):

mountain pass; notch; pass (the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Spot, stain, or pollute

Example:

The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it

Synonyms:

befoul; defile; foul; maculate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame (bring shame or dishonor upon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

defilement (the state of being polluted)

defiler (a person or organization that causes pollution of the environment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

Example:

Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man

Synonyms:

defile; maculate; stain; sully; tarnish

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

blob; blot; fleck; spot (make a spot or mark onto)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "defile"):

darken (tarnish or stain)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon

Example:

sully someone's reputation

Synonyms:

cloud; corrupt; defile; sully; taint

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

deflower; impair; mar; spoil; vitiate (make imperfect)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

At five in the cold winter's morning the bugles were blowing in the hamlet of St. Jean Pied-du-Port, and by six Sir Nigel's Company, three hundred strong, were on their way for the defile, pushing swiftly in the dim light up the steep curving road; for it was the prince's order that they should be the first to pass through, and that they should remain on guard at the further end until the whole army had emerged from the mountains.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)