defile

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /dɪˈfaɪl/ or /ˈdiː-/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /dəˈfaɪl/ or /ˈdiˌfaɪl/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: de‧file

Verb

Plain form defile

Third-person singular defiles

Past tense defiled

Past participle defiled

Present participle defiling

1. (transitive) If you defile something, you make it dirty or unclean.
   • Synonyms: contaminate, pollute, spoil and sully