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file¹ Definition

file (fīl)

transitive verb filed, fil·ing

    1. to arrange (papers, etc.) in order for future reference
    2. to put (a paper, etc.) in its proper place or order
  1. ☆ to dispatch (a news story) to a newspaper, news agency, etc.
  2. to register (an application, etc.)
  3. to put (a legal document) on public record
  4. to initiate (a divorce suit or other legal action)

Etymology: ME filen < OFr filer, to string documents on thread, orig., to spin thread < LL filare, to spin < L filum, thread < IE base *gwhislo- > Lith gýsla, sinew

intransitive verb

  1. to move in a line to file out of a building
  2. ☆ to register oneself as a candidate (for a political office)
  3. to make application (for divorce proceedings, etc.)

noun

  1. a container, as a folder, cabinet, etc., for keeping papers in order
  2. an orderly arrangement of papers, cards, etc., as for reference
  3. a line of persons or things situated one behind another
  4. any of the rows of squares on a chessboard extending from one player's end to the other
  5. Comput. a collection of data (or, often, of logically related records) stored and dealt with as a single, named unit

Etymology: filesenses , , & < the v.; & < Fr file < L filum

file¹ Related Forms

file·able adjective filer noun

file¹ Idioms

in file

in line, one behind another

on file

(kept) in or as in a file for reference

file² Definition

file (fīl)

noun

  1. a steel tool with a rough, ridged surface for smoothing, grinding down, or cutting through something
  2. Brit., Slang a crafty rascal

Etymology: ME < OE feol (Mercian fil), akin to Ger feile < Du vijl, prob. < IE base *peik-, var. of *peig-, to scratch, prick > paint

transitive verb filed, fil·ing

to smooth, grind down, or cut through as with a file

file³ Definition

file (fīl)

transitive verb filed, fil·ing

Archaic to make foul; defile

Etymology: ME filen < OE -fylan < ful, dirty, foul

file Synonyms

file

n.

  1. A receptacle for keeping papers in order

    folder, filing cabinet, letter file, card file, letter case, pigeonhole, repository, organizer, drawer; see also folder 2.

  2. An orderly collection of papers

    card index, card file, portfolio, record, data, classified index, list, ready reference list, register, dossier, notebook, docket, census; see also catalog.

  3. Steel abrasive

    rasp, steel, sharpener, emery board.

    Types of files include: flat, round, rat-tail, triangular, saw, fingernail, wood, 10-inch, 12-inch, etc.

  4. A line

    rank, row, column; see line 1.

on file

filed, cataloged, registered; see recorded.

file Synonyms

file

v.

  1. To arrange in order

    classify, index, deposit, categorize, catalog, record, register, list, arrange, interfile, pigeonhole, docket; see also classify.

  2. To use an abrasive

    abrade, rasp, scrape, smooth, rub down, level off, finish, sharpen, hone, grind.

file Law Definition

n

  1. A court’s or a lawyer’s record of a case.
  2. v. The act of submitting a document, generally to a court. 

file Telecom Definition

  1. Program file. An electronic file containing commands and instructions for execution by a computer. See also program file.
  2. Data file. An electronic file containing the work created with a program. See also data file and data set.

file Usage Examples

Object

lawsuit: AMD filed a lawsuit against Intel in the US courts accusing the chipmaker of anticompetitive practices.

Converse of object

  • save: You may prefer to save the file to disk for later viewing.
  • delete: Here is an efficient way to delete all files older than a week: find.
  • download: Download Resource Adobe Acrobat reader is required to download some files.

Subject

sjhoward: Filed by sjhoward at 12:08 on Friday, 2nd April 2004 under Media.

Adjective modifier

  • audio: I moved the audio files for Pod of Funk to another server three weeks ago.
  • executable: The download arrives in the form of a self-extracting executable file, and the installation process is almost completely automated.
  • mp3: Grace to You Podcast Info Page Podcasting A podcast is a method of automatically receiving an mp3 audio file via an RSS feed.
  • downloadable: All downloadable files are in Acrobat Reader.pdf format.

Modifies a noun

format: The report is provided in the PDF file format.

Noun used with modifier

  • PDF: Unable to view our PDF files within your web browser window?
  • pdf: The disk contains Acrobat Reader software for accessing the pdf files.
  • configuration: I made certain that all the configuration files were properly tweaked for his particular computer.
  • log: It can read a range of temperature log file formats.
  • output: The results of the discrimination are written into two output files, one for each class.
  • input: An example input file with three data sets is shown below.

Preposition: in

directory: Once downloaded, you should ' unzip ' the files in a directory on your machine.

Preposition: under

shhexycorin: This entry was posted on Sunday, April 16th, 2006 at 5:51 pm and is filed under shhexycorin 's blog.

Preposition: for

bankruptcy: At the time concern was raised that VISCorp was about to file for bankruptcy itself.

Preposition: by

sjhoward: Filed by sjhoward at 12:08 on Friday, 2nd April 2004 under Media.

Browse dictionary entries near file

  1. filch
  2. filbert
  3. filature
  4. filariasis
  5. filaria
  6. filaree
  7. filar
  8. filament
  9. fila
  10. filé
  1. File and Print Sharing
  2. file clerk
  3. File Transfer Protocol
  4. filefish
  5. filet
  6. filet mignon
  7. filial
  8. filiation
  9. filibeg
  10. filibuster