DEFILE

 Dictionary entry overview: What does defile mean? 

• DEFILE (noun)
  The noun DEFILE has 1 sense:

1. a narrow pass (especially one between mountains)

  Familiarity information: DEFILE used as a noun is very rare.

• DEFILE (verb)
  The verb DEFILE has 3 senses:

1. place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
2. make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
3. spot, stain, or pollute

  Familiarity information: DEFILE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEFILE (noun)

Meaning:

A narrow pass (especially one between mountains)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

defile; gorge

Hypernyms ("defile" is a kind of...):

mountain pass; notch; pass (the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks)

• DEFILE (verb)

Meaning:

Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

defile; sully; taint; corrupt; cloud

Context example:

sully someone's reputation

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

deflower; impair; mar; spoil; vitiate (make imperfect)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

maculate; tarnish; defile; sully; stain

Context examples:

The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air / Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

blob; blot; fleck; spot (make a spot or mark onto)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "defile"):

darken (tarnish or stain)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Spot, stain, or pollute

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

befoul; maculate; defile; foul

Context example:

The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it

Hypernyms (to "defile" is one way to...):

attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame (bring shame or dishonor upon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something