file

/faɪl/
/faɪl/
IPA guide

Other forms: filed; files

To file is to submit an application or a record to some official authority, like a court, police station, or city hall. You might file a complaint against your neighbor after he shovels the snow from his driveway into yours.

People file for divorce, file for bankruptcy, and file charges against criminals. You can also file a receipt or a record at home, by putting it in a file folder and then sliding the folder into a file cabinet. When you stand "single file," you're in a line or queue, and if the group moves a few steps, you can say it files forward.

Definitions of file
  1. verb
    record in a public office or in a court of law
    “file for divorce”
    “file a complaint”
    synonyms: register
    see moresee less
    types:
    trademark
    register the trademark of
    type of:
    register
    record in writing; enter into a book of names or events or transactions
  2. verb
    file a formal charge against
    synonyms: charge, lodge
    see moresee less
    types:
    impeach
    charge (a public official) with an offense or misdemeanor committed while in office
    type of:
    accuse, criminate, impeach, incriminate
    bring an accusation against; level a charge against
  3. noun
    a steel hand tool with small sharp teeth on some or all of its surfaces; used for smoothing wood or metal
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 7 types...
    hide 7 types...
    blunt file
    a file with parallel edges
    flat file
    a file with two flat surfaces
    nailfile
    a small flat file for shaping the nails
    rasp, wood file
    a coarse file with sharp pointed projections
    rat-tail file
    a thin round file shaped like the tail of a rat
    round file
    a file with a circular cross section; used to file the inside of holes
    taper file
    a file with converging edges
    type of:
    hand tool
    a tool used with workers' hands
  4. verb
    smooth with a file
    “file one's fingernails”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    smooth, smoothen
    make smooth or smoother, as if by rubbing
  5. noun
    a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together
    synonyms: data file
    see moresee less
    examples:
    Combined DNA Index System
    the DNA file maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
    types:
    show 12 types...
    hide 12 types...
    computer file
    (computer science) a file maintained in computer-readable form
    mug book, mug file
    a file of mug shots (pictures of criminals that are kept on file by the police)
    tickler, tickler file
    a file of memoranda or notices that remind of things to be done
    backup file
    (computer science) a computer file dedicated to storing and updating computer backups
    binary file
    (computer science) a computer file containing machine-readable information that must be read by an application; characters use all 8 bits of each byte
    main file, master file
    (computer science) a computer file that is used as the authority in a given job and that is relatively permanent
    disk file
    (computer science) a computer file stored on a magnetic disk and identified by a unique label
    detail file, transaction file
    (computer science) a computer file containing relatively transient data about a particular data processing task
    input data, input file
    (computer science) a computer file that contains data that serve as input to a device or program
    output file
    (computer science) a computer file that contains data that are the output of a device or program
    read-only file
    (computer science) a file that you can read but cannot change
    document, text file
    (computer science) a computer file that contains text (and possibly formatting instructions) using seven-bit ASCII characters
    type of:
    record
    anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
  6. noun
    office furniture consisting of a container for keeping papers in order
    synonyms: file cabinet, filing cabinet
    see moresee less
    types:
    card catalog, card catalogue, card index
    an alphabetical listing of items (e.g., books in a library) with a separate card for each item
    vertical file
    a file in which records are stored upright on one edge
    Rolodex
    (trademark) a desktop rotary card index with removable cards; usually used for names, addresses, and telephone numbers
    type of:
    office furniture
    furniture intended for use in an office
  7. verb
    place in a container for keeping records
    “File these bills, please”
    synonyms: file away
    see moresee less
    type of:
    enter, put down, record
    make a record of; set down in permanent form
  8. verb
    proceed in line
    “The students filed into the classroom”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    march, process
    march in a procession
  9. noun
    a line of persons or things ranged one behind the other
    synonyms: Indian file, single file
    see moresee less
    types:
    snake dance
    a group advancing in a single-file serpentine path
    column
    a line of units following one after another
    type of:
    line
    a formation of people or things one behind another
Pronunciation
US
/faɪl/
UK
/faɪl/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘file'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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