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View synonyms for

defect

[ noun dee-fekt, dih-fekt; verb dih-fekt ]

noun

  1. a shortcoming, fault, or imperfection: a defect in a machine.

    a defect in an argument;

    a defect in a machine.

  2. lack or want, especially of something essential to perfection or completeness; deficiency: a defect of action.

    a defect of common sense

    a defect of action.

  3. Also called crystal defect, Crystallography. a discontinuity in the lattice of a crystal caused by missing or extra atoms or ions, or by dislocations.


verb (used without object)

  1. to desert a cause, country, etc., especially in order to adopt another (often followed by from or to ):

    He defected from the U.S.S.R. to the West.

defect

noun

  1. a lack of something necessary for completeness or perfection; shortcoming; deficiency
  2. an imperfection, failing, or blemish
  3. crystallog a local deviation from regularity in the crystal lattice of a solid See also point defect dislocation
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. intr to desert one's country, cause, allegiance, etc, esp in order to join the opposing forces
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈڱ𳦳ٴǰ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ڱ𳦳·· adjective
  • ·ڱ𳦳····ٲ [dih-fek-t, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
  • ·ڱ𳦳· adjective
  • ԴDz··ڱ𳦳·Բ adjective
  • ··ڱ𳦳 noun
  • ··ڱ𳦳 verb (used without object)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of defect1

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin ŧڱ𳦳ٳܲ “failure, weakness,” equivalent to ŧڱ-, variant stem of ŧھ “to run short, fail, weaken” ( deficient ) + -tus suffix of verb action
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Word History and Origins

Origin of defect1

C15: from Latin ŧڱ𳦳ٳܲ, from ŧھ to forsake, fail; see deficient
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Synonym Study

Defect, blemish, flaw refer to faults that detract from perfection. Defect is the general word for any kind of shortcoming or imperfection, whether literal or figurative: a defect in eyesight, in a plan. A blemish is usually a defect on a surface, which mars the appearance: a blemish on her cheek. Flaw is applied to a defect in quality, caused by imperfect structure (as in a diamond) or brought about during manufacture (as in texture of cloth, in clearness of glass, etc.).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Reform councillor Thomas Kerr, who defected from the Conservatives in January, said he welcomed "any serious attempt to reflect on the state of our national discourse".

From

Snagging aims to identify defects or problems or something that is broken, damaged, not fitted properly or looks unfinished.

From

If a child also experiences a medical issue, including an extended hospital stay, a serious birth defect or a developmental delay, these problems can be compounded.

From

Greene, who defected to the Liberal Democrats on Friday, claimed he was not alone in feeling the Conservatives' shift to tackle the threat posed by Reform had alienated certain members.

From

Small puma populations have been isolated by the freeway, and their offspring were showing signs of birth defects.

From

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