A file that lists the interdependencies of a given set of related files and defines a set of operations to be carried out on them by the ‘make’ utility.
Origin
1970s. From make + file.
Definition of makefile in US English:
makefile
nounˈmeɪkfʌɪl
Computing
A file that lists the interdependencies of a given set of related files and defines a set of operations to be carried out on them by the ‘make’ utility.