defile

Definitions

1. 1.Any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a file, or with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills, rocks, etc.
2. 2.(Mil.) The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade.
3. 3.To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute. They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak.
4. 4.To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. Swift.
5. 5.To injure in purity of character; to corrupt. Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. xx.
6. 6.4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate. The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. Prior.
7. 7.To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith. Lev. xxii. 8.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "defile" mean?
• What is another word for "defile"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is defile.

• What is any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a file, or with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills, rocks, etc called?
• What is the act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade called?
• What is to make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute. They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak called?
• What is to soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. Swift called?
• What is to injure in purity of character; to corrupt. Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. xx called?
• What is 4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate. The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. Prior called?
• What is to make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith. Lev. xxii. 8 called?