Dictionary definition · defile
noun
- a narrow pass (especially one between mountains)
verb
- place under suspicion or cast doubt upon"sully someone's reputation"
- make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically"The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"
- spot, stain, or pollute"The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).