DEFILE


Meaning of DEFILE in English

I .

/ dɪˈfaɪl; NAmE / verb

[ vn ] ( formal or literary ) to make sth dirty or no longer pure, especially sth that people consider important or holy :

Many victims of burglary feel their homes have been defiled.

The altar had been defiled by vandals.

►  de·file·ment noun

II .

/ dɪˈfaɪl; NAmE ; ˈdiːfaɪl/ noun

( formal ) a narrow way through mountains

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WORD ORIGIN

II . late 17th cent.: from French défilé (noun), défiler (verb), from dé away from + file column, file.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.