 defile |
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| 1. | [ verb ] spot, stain, or pollute | |
| Synonyms: | befoul maculate foul | |
| Examples: | "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it" |
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| Related terms: | dishonor macule defiler befoulment | |
| 2. | [ verb ] make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air, of metals; also used metaphorically | |
| Synonyms: | tarnish stain sully maculate | |
| Examples: | : "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air" "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man" |
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| Related terms: | spot darken blot macule tarnish | |
| 3. | [ verb ] place under suspicion or cast doubt upon | |
| Synonyms: | corrupt taint cloud sully | |
| Examples: | "sully someone's reputation" |
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| Related terms: | mar cloud | |
| 4. | [ noun ] (geography) a narrow pass (especially one between mountains) | |
| Synonyms: | gorge | |
| Related terms: | pass | |
| Similar spelling: |
debile Deville devil Deaville Deibel Devalle |
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