defile
/dɪˈfaɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfaɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈfī(-ə)l dē-/ (ame, mw)
defile — verb
- defilepresent simple I / you / we / they
- defileshe / she / it
- defiledpast simple
- defiling-ing form
1. to treat a person, place, or thing in a way that leaves it dirty, dishonored, or
to treat a person, place, or thing in a way that leaves it dirty, dishonored, or no longer sacred
Graffiti defiled the white wall of the old temple overnight.
defile + sacred place/object
Soldiers defiled the grave by driving trucks across the fresh soil.
The oil leak defiled the river where village children used to swim.
For many fans, burning the banner defiled the club's proud history.
The priest said the altar had been defiled by the muddy footprints.
- desecrate
stronger and more clearly tied to holy places, graves, or sacred objects
- sully
often focuses on harming a reputation or good name rather than making something physically dirty
- contaminate
usually describes physical pollution without the moral or sacred force of defile
文法句型
defile + sacred place/object
be defiled by + noun
用法筆記
Often used for graves, temples, flags, or bodies when the act is seen as dirtying their dignity as well as their surface. Frequently appears in the passive when the speaker is judging the act morally or religiously.
常見錯誤
defile — noun
- defilesingular
- defilesplural
1. a narrow pass or valley that runs between steep hills or mountains
a narrow pass or valley that runs between steep hills or mountains
The army moved through the defile before sunrise to avoid enemy fire.
move through a defile
A cold stream ran along the bottom of the rocky defile.
From the ridge, Luca could see traders entering the defile below.
The road narrows into a defile just beyond the last farm.
文法句型
move through a defile
a defile between mountains
用法筆記
Common in military, travel, and historical writing rather than everyday speech. It often suggests a place that is hard to cross or easy to defend because the sides are close together.