defile (
http://definr.com/defile)
n : a narrow pass (especially one between mountains) [syn:
gorge]
v 1: place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's
reputation" [syn:
sully,
corrupt,
taint,
cloud]
2: make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air, of metals; also
used metaphorically: "The silver was tarnished by the long
exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after
the affair with a married man" [syn:
tarnish,
maculate,
sully]
3: spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river
by emptying raw sewage into it" [syn:
foul,
befoul,
maculate]