n. & v.
n. a tool with a roughened surface or surfaces, usu. of steel, for smoothing or shaping wood, fingernails, etc.
v.tr. 1 smooth or shape with a file. 2 elaborate or improve (a thing, esp. a literary work). file away remove (roughness etc.) with a file. file-fish any fish of the family Ostracionidae, with sharp dorsal fins and usu. bright coloration. filer n.
[ OE fil f. WG ]