contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean. contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source. taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness …

To move in single file or in files or columns: The soldiers defiled from the fort, arms raised in surrender. n. 1. A narrow gorge or pass that restricts lateral movement, as of troops. 2. A march in a line.

A false promise may often be worse than a broken promise, as the former defiles the trust inherent in promises at the outset.

When you defile something, you make it dirty or make it lose its purity. Think of a snowy field in which someone has tossed their old cans and wrappers. The litter defiles the winter wonderland.

DEFILE definition: to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase. See examples of defile used in a sentence.

Dec 14, 2025 · defile (plural defiles) A narrow passage or way (originally (military), one which soldiers could only march through in a single file or line), especially a narrow gorge or pass between …

To defile something that people think is important or holy means to do something to it or say something about it which is offensive. He had defiled the sacred name of the prophet. [VERB noun] A defile is a …

de•file1 /dɪˈfaɪl/ v. [ ~ + obj], -filed, -fil•ing. to make foul, dirty, or unclean. to desecrate: The infidels had defiled the shrine. to dishonor or spoil: Insults alone will not defile his honor. Geography a narrow …

Definition of defile verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

The lake has been defiled by polluters. She thinks slang defiles the language. Vandals defiled the holy shrine.