noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ˈfaɪ.lɪŋ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪlɪŋ
CMU ARPABET:F AY1 L IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Any particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The process left metal filings all over the bench and the part.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The act of storing documents in an archive; archiving.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Something that has been officially filed; a document on file.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
present participle and gerund of file
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
preservation and methodical arrangement as of documents and papers etc.
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I have some filing to do
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: storage
6
noun
Meaning 6
the act of using a file (as in shaping or smoothing an object)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: formation, shaping
7
noun
Meaning 7
the entering of a legal document into the public record
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he filed a complaint
he filed his tax return
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: submission, entry
8
noun
Meaning 8
a fragment rubbed off by the use of a file
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fragment
Narrower terms: metal filing
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
بُرَادَة
(burāda)
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Bulgarian:
стърготи́ни
(stǎrgotíni)
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Bulgarian:
стружки
(stružki)
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Catalan:
llimadures
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Catalan:
llimalla
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Dutch:
vijlsel
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Dutch:
splinter
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Finnish:
puru
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Finnish:
jauhe
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
French:
limaille
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
German:
Span
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Hungarian:
reszelék
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Italian:
limatura
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Italian:
polvere
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Latin:
limatura
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Polish:
opiłek
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Portuguese:
limalha
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Russian:
опи́лка
(opílka)
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Russian:
стру́жка
(strúžka)
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Tagalog:
puyiw
— particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving
Bulgarian:
архивиране
(arhivirane)
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
Dutch:
archivering
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
Finnish:
arkistointi
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
German:
Archivierung
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
Hungarian:
tárolás
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
Hungarian:
archiválás
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
Interlingua:
archivamento
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
Italian:
archiviazione
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
Polish:
archiwizacja
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
Portuguese:
arquivamento
— act of storing documents in an archive; archiving
