filing

/ˈfaɪlɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfaɪlɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfī-liŋ/ (ame, mw)

filing — noun

  • filingsingular
  • filingsplural

1. The activity of arranging documents or electronic records into an ordered system

1.名詞B1
釋義

The activity of arranging documents or electronic records into an ordered system so they can be found again when needed.

例句

Mei finished the weekly filing of insurance claims just before the lunch break.

The filing of client contracts must be done alphabetically by last name.

filing of + [document type]

同義詞
  • sorting

    focuses on grouping by type rather than storing in a system

  • organizing

    broader; can apply to any kind of arrangement, not just documents

  • archiving

    implies long-term storage of records that are no longer active

反義詞
  • discarding

    throwing away instead of keeping in a file

文法句型

filing of + [document type]

[adjective] filing

用法筆記

Uncountable noun. Often appears in compounds such as filing cabinet, filing system, and filing clerk.

常見錯誤

I need to do a filing of this contract' (treating it as countable).
I need to file this contract' or 'The filing of this contract is urgent.
💡The noun filing is uncountable when referring to the activity.

2. A document that has been officially submitted, recorded, or accepted by a court,

2.名詞B2
釋義

A document that has been officially submitted, recorded, or accepted by a court, government office, or other authority.

例句

The lawyer checked the court filing for any errors before the hearing.

compound: court filing

The company's tax filing showed a loss for the third year in a row.

同義詞
  • document

    general term; filing implies the document has been officially submitted

  • submission

    focuses on the act of giving the document to an authority

  • record

    broader; a filing is a specific type of record created by submission

反義詞
  • withdrawal

    a document that has been taken back before it was officially recorded

文法句型

[context] filing

filing + [preposition]

用法筆記

Countable noun. Most common in legal and financial settings. The type of filing is often specified by the context: court filing, tax filing, bankruptcy filing.

常見錯誤

I sent the filing to the court yesterday' (vague).
I sent the court filing to the judge yesterday.
💡Specify the type of filing and the recipient for clarity.

3. Very tiny pieces of metal that break off the surface of a larger piece when it i

3.名詞B2
釋義

Very tiny pieces of metal that break off the surface of a larger piece when it is rubbed with a file tool.

例句

Iron filings on the workbench stuck to the magnet that the boy was holding.

material + filings: iron filings

The blacksmith swept the brass filings from the floor into a metal bucket.

同義詞
  • shavings

    broader; can come from wood or metal, and are usually larger

  • particles

    general term for very small bits of any material

  • dust

    even finer than filings; can float in the air

文法句型

[metal type] filings

用法筆記

Always plural. The metal type is nearly always specified: iron filings, steel filings, brass filings. The filings are by-products of the shaping or smoothing process.

常見錯誤

There was a filing on the workbench' (treated as singular).
There were iron filings all over the workbench.
💡Use the plural form and specify the metal type.

4. The action of rubbing a metal file back and forth across a hard surface to remov

4.名詞B2
釋義

The action of rubbing a metal file back and forth across a hard surface to remove material, smooth rough edges, or change the shape of an object.

例句

Careful filing of the rough edge made the metal piece safe to touch.

filing of + [object being smoothed]

The carpenter did the final filing on the table leg until it was perfectly smooth.

同義詞
  • smoothing

    focuses on the result (a smooth surface), not the tool used

  • shaping

    broader; can use any tool, not just a file

  • grinding

    uses a rough wheel or stone rather than a hand-held file

反義詞
  • roughening

    making a surface rough instead of smooth

文法句型

filing of + [object]

[adjective] filing

用法筆記

Uncountable noun. Refers to the physical action with a file tool. Distinguish from sense 1 (document filing) — the two meanings share the same word but have completely separate historical origins.

常見錯誤

The filing of the documents took two hours' (when referring to sense 4, using a file tool on documents would be unusual).
The filing of the metal rod took about ten minutes.
💡Make the object clear to avoid confusion with document filing.