file

Meanings

Noun

• A collection of papers collated and archived together.
• A roll or list.
• Course of thought; thread of narration.
• An aggregation of data on a storage device, identified by a name.
• A column of people one behind another, whether "single file" or in a large group with many files side by side.
• A small detachment of soldiers.
• one of the eight vertical lines of squares on a chessboard (i.e., those identified by a letter). The analog horizontal lines are the ranks.
• A hand tool consisting of a handle to which a block of coarse metal is attached, and used for removing sharp edges or for cutting, especially through metal.
• A cunning or resourceful person.

Verb

• To commit (official papers) to some office.
• To submit (a story) to a newspaper or similar publication.
• To place in an archive in a logical place and order.
• To store a file on a storage medium such as a disc or another computer.
• To submit a formal request to some office.
• To set in order; to arrange, or lay away.
• To move in a file.
• To smooth, grind, or cut with a file.
• To defile.
• To corrupt.

Related

Similar words

• document, paper

Narrower meaning words

• audio file
• binary file
• code file
• destination file
• hypertext file
• Jenkinsfile
• source code file
• source file
• system file
• text file
• video file
• rasp

Origin

• From Old French fil ("thread"), from Latin fīlum ("thread"). filum.
• From French file, from filer, from Latin fīlāre, from filum.
• From Middle English file, fyle, from Old English fēl, fēol, from earlier fīil, from Proto-Germanic *finhlō, *finhilō, from Proto-Indo-European *peyḱ- ("to adorn, form"). Cognate with West Frisian file ("file"), Dutch vijl ("file"), German Feile ("file").
• From Middle English filen, from Old English fȳlan, from Proto-West Germanic *fūlijan. More at defile.