card index , file
n
1 an index in which each item is separately listed on systematically arranged cards
vb
♦
card-index tr
2 to make such an index of (a book)
card file
n another term for →
card index
crosscut file
n a file having two intersecting rows of teeth
dead-smooth file
n (Engineering) the smoothest grade of file commonly used
electronic file cabinet
n (Computing) a device, controlled by software, for the storage and retrieval of information
file [1]
n
1 a folder, box, etc., used to keep documents or other items in order
2 the documents, etc., kept in this way
3 documents or information about a specific subject, person, etc.
we have a file on every known thief
5 a line of people in marching formation, one behind another
Compare →
rank 1 →
6
6 any of the eight vertical rows of squares on a chessboard
7 (Computing) a named collection of information, in the form of text, programs, graphics, etc., held on a permanent storage device such as a magnetic disk
8 Obsolete a list or catalogue
9 ♦
on file recorded or catalogued for reference, as in a file
vb
10 to place (a document, letter, etc.) in a file
11 tr to put on record, esp. to place (a legal document) on public or official record; register
12 tr to bring (a suit, esp. a divorce suit) in a court of law
13 tr to submit (copy) to a newspaper or news agency
14 intr to march or walk in a file or files
the ants filed down the hill
(C16 (in the sense: string on which documents are hung): from Old French filer, from Medieval Latin filare; see filament)
♦
filer n
file [2]
n
1 a hand tool consisting essentially of a steel blade with small cutting teeth on some or all of its faces. It is used for shaping or smoothing metal, wood, etc.
2 Rare (Brit)
slang a cunning or deceitful person
vb
3 tr to shape or smooth (a surface) with a file
(Old English fil; related to Old Saxon fila, Old High German fihala file, Greek pikros bitter, sharp)
♦
filer n
file [3]
vb tr
Obsolete to pollute or defile
(Old English fylan; related to Middle Low German vülen; see defile1, filth, foul)
file server
n (Computing) the central unit of a local area network that controls its operation and provides access to separately stored data files
floatcut file
n (Engineering) a file having rows of parallel teeth
half-round file
n (Engineering) a file having a semicircular cross-section
Indian file
n another term for →
single file
rank and file
n
1 the ordinary soldiers of an army, excluding the officers
2 the great mass or majority of any group or organization, as opposed to the leadership
3 modifier of, relating to, or characteristic of the rank and file
rank-and-file opinion, rank-and-file support
♦
rank and filer n
scratch file
n (Computing) a temporary store for use during the execution of a program
single-cut file
n a file with teeth in one direction only: used for filing soft material
single file
n a line of persons, animals, or things ranged one behind the other, either stationary or moving