fi·lé
(fē′lā, fĭ-lā′)n. Powdered sassafras leaves used to thicken and season soups, stews, and gumbos.
[Louisiana French, from French, past participle of filer, to spin thread (from its effect when added to hot liquids), from Old French; see file1.]
file 1
(fīl)n.1. A container, such as a cabinet or folder, for keeping papers in order.
2. A collection of papers or published materials kept or arranged in convenient order.
3. Computers A collection of data or program records stored as a unit with a single name.
4. a. A line of persons, animals, or things positioned one behind the other.
b. A line of troops or military vehicles so positioned.
5. Games Any of the rows of squares that run forward and backward between players on a playing board in chess or checkers.
6. Archaic A list or roll.
v. filed, fil·ing, files
v.tr.1. To put or keep (papers, for example) in useful order for storage or reference.
2. To enter (a legal document) as an official record.
3. To send or submit (copy) to a newspaper.
4. To initiate (a lawsuit): file a complaint; file charges.
v.intr.1. To march or walk in a line.
2. To put items in a file.
3. To make application; apply: filed for a job with the state; file for a divorce.
4. To enter one's name in a political contest: filed for Congress.
Idiom: on file In or as if in a file for easy reference: We will keep your résumé on file.
[From Middle English
filen,
to put documents on file, from Old French
filer,
to spin thread, to put documents on a thread, from Late Latin
fīlāre,
to spin, draw out in a long line, from Latin
fīlum,
thread; see
gwhī- in
Indo-European roots.]
file2left to right: double-cut flat file, single-cut round file, and single-cut half-round file
file 2
(fīl)n.1. Any of several hardened steel tools with cutting ridges for forming, smoothing, or reducing especially metallic surfaces.
2. A nail file.
3. Chiefly British A crafty or artful person.
tr.v. filed,
fil·ing,
files To smooth, reduce, or remove with or as if with a file.
file 3
(fīl)tr.v. filed,
fil·ing,
files Archaic To sully or defile.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
file
(faɪl) n1. a folder, box, etc, used to keep documents or other items in order
2. the documents, etc, kept in this way
3. documents or information about a specific subject, person, etc: we have a file on every known thief.
4. an orderly line or row
5. (Military) a line of people in marching formation, one behind another. Compare
rank16 6. (Chess & Draughts) any of the eight vertical rows of squares on a chessboard
7. (Computer Science) computing a named collection of information, in the form of text, programs, graphics, etc, held on a permanent storage device such as a magnetic disk
8. obsolete a list or catalogue
9. Canadian a group of problems or responsibilities, esp in government, associated with a particular topic: the environment file.
10. on file recorded or catalogued for reference, as in a file
vb11. to place (a document, letter, etc) in a file
12. (tr) to put on record, esp to place (a legal document) on public or official record; register
13. (Law) (tr) to bring (a suit, esp a divorce suit) in a court of law
14. (Journalism & Publishing) (tr) to submit (copy) to a newspaper or news agency
15. (intr) to march or walk in a file or files: the ants filed down the hill.
[C16 (in the sense: string on which documents are hung): from Old French filer, from Medieval Latin fīlāre; see filament]
ˈfiler n
file
(faɪl) n1. (Tools) 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
2. rare slang Brit a cunning or deceitful person
vb (Tools) (tr) to shape or smooth (a surface) with a file
[Old English fīl; related to Old Saxon fīla, Old High German fīhala file, Greek pikros bitter, sharp]
ˈfiler n
file
(faɪl) vb (tr) obsolete to pollute or defile
[Old English fӯlan; related to Middle Low German vülen; see defile1, filth, foul]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
file1
(faɪl)
n., v. filed, fil•ing. n. 1. a container in which papers, letters, etc., are arranged in convenient order.
2. a collection of papers, records, etc., arranged in convenient order.
3. a collection of related computer data or program records stored by name.
4. a line of persons or things arranged one behind another (disting. from
rank).
5. a list or roll.
6. one of the vertical lines of squares on a chessboard.
v.t. 7. to place in a file.
8. to arrange (papers, records, etc.) in convenient order for storage or reference.
9. to transmit (a news story), as by wire.
10. to initiate (legal proceedings).
v.i. 11. to march in a file or line, one after another.
12. to make application: to file for a job.
Idioms: on file, filed for easy retrieval.
[1425–75; late Middle English < Middle French filer to string documents on a thread or wire, Old French: to wind or spin thread « Latin fīlum thread, string]
fil′er, n.
file2
(faɪl)
n., v. filed, fil•ing. n. 1. a metal tool, esp. of steel, having rough surfaces for reducing or smoothing metal, wood, etc.
v.t. 3. to reduce, smooth, or remove with or as if with a file.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English fīl, fēol, c. Old Saxon fīla, Old High German fī(ha)la]
fil′er, n.
file3
(faɪl)
v.t. filed, fil•ing. Archaic. to defile; corrupt.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English
fȳlan to befoul, defile, derivative of
fūl foul]
fi•lé
(fɪˈleɪ, ˈfi leɪ)
n. a powder made from the ground leaves of the sassafras tree, used as a thickener and flavoring, esp. in Creole soups and gumbos.
[1800–10, Amer.; < Louisiana French; literally, twisted, ropy, stringy]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.