n. & v.
n. 1 a folder, box, etc., for holding loose papers, esp. arranged for reference. 2 a set of papers kept in this. 3 Computing a collection of (usu. related) data stored under one name. 4 a series of issues of a newspaper etc. in order. 5 a stiff pointed wire on which documents etc. are impaled for keeping.
v.tr. 1 place (papers) in a file or among (esp. public) records. 2 submit (a petition for divorce, an application for a patent, etc.) to the appropriate authority. 3 (of a reporter) send (a story, information, etc.) to a newspaper. filing cabinet a case with drawers for storing documents. filer n.
[ F fil f. L filum thread ]