to file
20
5.1
- verb
- /faɪl/
- Linda suddenly wished she had taken the time to file her broken nail.
- file nails
- file teeth
- file edges
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Watch on YouTubeWow, I'm going to file that slightly.
- Wow, I'm going to file that slightly.
- Saw them off and file that down and voila, you'll have a perfect piece of silver Rosemary.
- But it all when you, when you file it down, when you bake it, when you melt it, it's all the same shit.
Examples
-
One I particularly remember had her front teeth filed into points.
Blog text (25) -
I can file down that sear pin.
-
I already filed them down.
-
When he returned, he found me filing sharp points to some pieces of wire...
Academic text (1995) -
The firing pin is filed down, right?
-
So I am just going to trim my nails and file them and paint them.
-
It's a new habit of mine, filing my nails, and it is intended to prevent my chewing them.
Fiction book (1993) -
Claude took measurements and filed, then repeated the process.
Fiction book (1992) -
He had filed his teeth down to sharp points to add to the ferocity of his appearance.
-
To prepare the piece of wood for painting, I will file the edges until they are smooth.
Synonyms
6
5.2
To rub a surface with a small rough tool to remove something
2
7.8
To scrape a surface with a rough tool to shape it
1
4.3
To make a surface flat and even by rubbing or polishing
Antonyms
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
- Formal
5
3.5
Officially send a completed form showing your income and taxes you owe
- Specialized
1
3.5
To put more than one file into one smaller file for sending or saving
Compounds
- Texting
15
2.9
A way to send digital files like documents or music over the internet, sometimes without permission
9
3.5
A way of arranging and storing paper documents or computer data so you can find them
- Specialized
4
2.8
A file that stores a copy of other files so you can get them back if they are lost
- Specialized
3
3.6
A computer on a network that stores files and lets other users access them with permission
- Specialized
1
4.7
A computer file that stores data in a non-text form for programs to read
- Specialized
1
6.3
A table on a computer disk that shows where information is stored and which areas cannot be used
- Specialized
1
5.2
A computer file that holds recent records of actions updated while the computer works
- Specialized
1
3.7
A standard way for computers to send files to each other over the internet
- Specialized
1
3.5
A few letters or numbers after a file name that show the file type
- Specialized
1
5.8
A hand tool with a rough flat surface that you move to smooth or shape wood and metal
- Specialized
1
9.5
A thin metal tool with a round taper used to smooth small round holes and curves
- Specialized
1
3.5
A file that has only plain letters, numbers, and symbols with no special formatting
- Specialized
1
6.5
A way to share files over a network that lets people download without a password
- Specialized
A computer used only to store and share files for other computers
- Specialized
A computer that shares files on a network and is also used for work
- Specialized
A hand tool with edges that narrow to a point for shaping and smoothing metal or wood
How Smooth
Surface Forms
Etymology
File (verb) 'to smooth by rubbing' comes from the tool file and the old root fil meaning 'to rub' or 'scrape', so to file something is to rub it with a rough tool until it is smooth.