Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

file

/faɪl/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.75 in modern English

Syllables
file
IPA
/faɪl/
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A collection of papers collated and archived together.

noun

A roll or list.

noun

A course of thought; a thread of narration.

noun

An aggregation of data on a storage device, identified by a name.

noun

A row of modular kitchen units and a countertop, consisting of cabinets and appliances below (dishwasher) and next to (stove/cooker) a countertop.

noun

Clipping of file cabinet.

Canadian usage; American usage

verb

To commit (official papers) to some office.

Transitive verb

verb

To commit (official papers) to some office.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Old French fil (“thread”), from Latin fīlum (“thread”). Doublet of filum.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: fil, fīlum, file, fīlāre, fēl, *finhlō

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /faɪl/
  • British English: /faɪl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

files (plural) files (present, singular) filing (participle, present) filed (participle, past) filed (past)

Derived Forms

backfile Filegate filegroup filehandle fileless filelike filemark filemask filename filepath fileserver fileset

Phrases

card file card-file card-file system case file device file file allocation table file association file cabinet

Synonyms

befoul foil inquinate assoil beclart bedaub bedirty imbrue (especially with blood) bedizen befile befilth begrime

Antonyms

rank

Rhymes With

while style smile mile pile kyle awhile isle worthwhile tile aisle nile

Questions

How do you pronounce file?
The recorded pronunciation is /faɪl/.
What does file mean?
A collection of papers collated and archived together.
Where does file come from?
It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce file

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “file”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/faɪl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “file”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “file” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.