file

¹

[ fahyl ]

noun

1. a folder, cabinet, or other container in which papers, letters, etc., are arranged in convenient order for storage or reference.
2. a collection of papers, records, etc., arranged in convenient order:

   to make a file for a new account.

3. Computers. a collection of related data or program records stored on some input/output or auxiliary storage medium:

   This program's main purpose is to update the customer master file.

4. a line of persons or things arranged one behind another ( rank ¹def 10 ).
5. Military.
   1. a person in front of or behind another in a military formation.
   2. one step on a promotion list.
6. one of the vertical lines of squares on a chessboard.
7. a list or roll.
8. a string or wire on which papers are strung for preservation and reference.

verb (used with object)

, filed, fil·ing.

1. to place in a file.
2. to arrange (papers, records, etc.) in convenient order for storage or reference.

   Synonyms: index, catalog, label, classify, categorize, list

3. Journalism.
   1. to arrange (copy) in the proper order for transmittal by wire.
   2. to transmit (copy), as by wire or telephone:

      He filed copy from Madrid all through the war.

verb (used without object)

, filed, fil·ing.

1. to march in a file or line, one after another, as soldiers:

   The parade filed past endlessly.

2. to make application:

   to file for a civil-service job.

file

²

[ fahyl ]

noun

1. a long, narrow tool of steel or other metal having a series of ridges or points on its surfaces for reducing or smoothing surfaces of metal, wood, etc.
2. a small, similar tool for trimming and cleaning fingernails; nail file.
3. British Slang. a cunning, shrewd, or artful person.

verb (used with object)

, filed, fil·ing.

1. to reduce, smooth, or remove with or as if with a file.

file

³

[ fahyl ]

verb (used with object)

, Archaic.

, filed, fil·ing.

1. to defile; corrupt.

filé

⁴

[ fi-ley, fee-ley ]

noun

, New Orleans Cooking.

1. a powder made from the ground leaves of the sassafras tree, used as a thickener and to impart a pungent taste to soups, gumbos, and other dishes.

file

¹

/ faɪl /

verb

1. obsolete.
   tr to pollute or defile

file

²

/ faɪl /

noun

1. 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.
   a cunning or deceitful person

verb

1. tr to shape or smooth (a surface) with a file

file

³

/ faɪl /

noun

1. 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. a line of people in marching formation, one behind another Compare rank 1
6. any of the eight vertical rows of squares on a chessboard
7. 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. 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

verb

1. to place (a document, letter, etc) in a file
2. tr to put on record, esp to place (a legal document) on public or official record; register
3. tr to bring (a suit, esp a divorce suit) in a court of law
4. tr to submit (copy) to a newspaper or news agency
5. intr to march or walk in a file or files

   the ants filed down the hill

file

/ fīl /

1. A collection of related data or program records stored as a unit with a single name. Files are the basic units that a computer works with in storing and retrieving data.

Derived Forms

• ˈfiler, noun
• ˈfiler, noun

Other Words From

• filea·ble adjective
• filer noun
• non·filer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of file¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb filen, from Middle French filer “to string documents on a thread or wire,” Old French: “to wind or spin thread,” from Vulgar Latin fīlāre “to wind or spin thread,” from the Latin noun fīlum “a string, thread”; the English noun is derived from the verb

Origin of file²

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English fīl, fēol; cognate with German Feile; akin to Slavic (Polish) piła “saw”

Origin of file³

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English fȳlan “to befoul, defile,” derivative of fūl foul

Origin of file⁴

1800–10, Americanism; < Louisiana French; literally, twisted, ropy, stringy (perhaps originally applied to dishes thickened with the powder), past participle of French filer; file ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of file¹

Old English fӯlan ; related to Middle Low German vülen ; see defile ¹, filth , foul

Origin of file²

Old English fīl ; related to Old Saxon fīla , Old High German fīhala file, Greek pikros bitter, sharp

Origin of file³

C16 (in the sense: string on which documents are hung): from Old French filer , from Medieval Latin fīlāre ; see filament

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on file, arranged in order for convenient reference; in a file:

   The names are on file in the office.

More idioms and phrases containing file

see in single file ; on file ; rank and file .

Related Words

• book
• case
• data
• directory
• dossier
• folder
• information
• list
• notebook
• record