File — Defs

01 n. An orderly succession; a line; a row

1.
An orderly succession; a line; a row(Mil.)
2.
An orderly collection of papers, arranged in sequence or classified for preservation and reference; as, files of letters or of newspapers; this mail brings English files to the 15th instant.
“It is upon a file with the duke's other letters.” — Shak.
3.
A roll or list.
4.
Course of thought; thread of narration.[Obs.]
“Let me resume the file of my narration.” — Sir H. Wotton.
5.
a collection of data on a digital recording medium treated as a unit for the purpose of recording, reading, storage, or indexing; -- such a file is typically accessible by computer programs by the use of a file name. The data may be of any type codable digitally, such as simple ASCII-coded text, complex binary-coded data, or an executable program, or may be itself a collection of other files.(computers)

Phrases & compounds

File firing — the act of firing by file, or each file independently of others.

File leader — the soldier at the front of any file, who covers and leads those in rear of him.

File marching — the marching of a line two deep, when faced to the right or left, so that the front and rear rank march side by side.

Indian file — a line of people marching one behind another; a single row. Also used adverbially; as, to march Indian file.

On file — preserved in an orderly collection; recorded in some database.

Rank and file — The body of soldiers constituting the mass of an army, including corporals and privates.

02 v. t. To set in order; to arrange, or lay away, esp. as papers in a methodical manner for preservation and reverence; to place on file; to insert…

imp. & p. p. Filed; p. pr. & vb. n. Filing

1.
To set in order; to arrange, or lay away, esp. as papers in a methodical manner for preservation and reverence; to place on file; to insert in its proper place in an arranged body of papers.
“I would have my several courses and my dishes well filed.” — Beau. & Fl.
2.
To bring before a court or legislative body by presenting proper papers in a regular way; as, to file a petition or bill.
3.
To put upon the files or among the records of a court; to note on (a paper) the fact date of its reception in court.(Law)
“To file a paper, on the part of a party, is to place it in the official custody of the clerk. To file, on the part of the clerk, is to indorse upon the paper the date of its reception, and retain it in his office, subject to inspection by whomsoever it may concern.” — Burrill.

03 v. i. To march in a file or line, as soldiers, not abreast, but one after another; -- generally with off.

1.
To march in a file or line, as soldiers, not abreast, but one after another; -- generally with off.(Mil.)
“My endeavors Have ever come too short of my desires, Yet filed with my abilities.” — Shak.

Phrases & compounds

To file with — to follow closely, as one soldier after another in file; to keep pace.

04 n. A steel instrument, having cutting ridges or teeth, made by indentation with a chisel, used for abrading or smoothing other substances, as …

1.
A steel instrument, having cutting ridges or teeth, made by indentation with a chisel, used for abrading or smoothing other substances, as metals, wood, etc.
2.
Anything employed to smooth, polish, or rasp, literally or figuratively.
“Mock the nice touches of the critic's file.” — Akenside.
3.
A shrewd or artful person.[Slang]
“Will is an old file in spite of his smooth face.” — Thackeray.

Phrases & compounds

Bastard file — See under Bastard, Cross, etc.

Cross-cut file — a file having two sets of teeth crossing obliquely.

File blank — a steel blank shaped and ground ready for cutting to form a file.

File cutter — a maker of files.

Second-cut file — a file having teeth of a grade next finer than bastard.

Single-cut file — a file having only one set of parallel teeth; a float.

Smooth file — a file having teeth so fine as to make an almost smooth surface.

05 v. t. To rub, smooth, or cut away, with a file; to sharpen with a file; as, to file a saw or a tooth.

1.
To rub, smooth, or cut away, with a file; to sharpen with a file; as, to file a saw or a tooth.
2.
To smooth or polish as with a file.
“File your tongue to a little more courtesy.” — Sir W. Scott.

06 v. t. To make foul; to defile.

1.
To make foul; to defile.[Obs.]
“All his hairy breast with blood was filed.” — Spenser.

“For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind.” — Shak.