noun / verb
file
A rough-surfaced tool used to smooth or shape material.
The carpenter files the rough edge until it feels smooth.
Etymology
Old English fēol already named the abrasive tool. The modern word preserves that tool name, distinct from the words for a row or a set of records.
More examples
- He used a small file on the metal bracket.
- She filed down the sharp corner.
- Two worn files lay beside the vise.
Forms
file · files · filed · filing
filings noun — Small particles removed by filing.