Crossword answer · 4 letters
File definition and meaning
fyle · noun; verb
What does File mean?
A file can be a unit of computer data, an organized set of records, a smoothing tool, or a line of people or things. The verb changes with the sense.
What does FILE mean in a crossword?
Digital-transfer wording can point to a computer FILE, but office, workshop, and marching clues can use the same four letters. A file is not defined by AirDrop: that product was the context of one recorded clue, not a requirement of being a file.
Why is FILE useful to learn?
“Open the file” may concern data; “File the papers” means organize them; “File the rough edge” means smooth it; “They file inside” describes movement in a line. The object or surrounding setting is the quickest way to disambiguate.
Common clue patterns
- A computer's stored data unit
- An organized collection of records
- Smooth an edge with a ridged tool
- Proceed in a line — verb
These are editorially written pattern summaries, not a reproduced puzzle archive.
Other meanings to watch
In chess, a file runs from one player's side toward the other's, unlike a rank running across. Filé, pronounced differently, is a powdered sassafras ingredient; grids may omit its accent. Do not treat every FILE clue as a computer question.