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de·fect 
Audio Help [n. dee-fekt, di-fekt; v. di-fekt] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [n. dee-fekt, di-fekt; v. di-fekt] Pronunciation Key –noun
–verb (used without object)
| 1. | a shortcoming, fault, or imperfection: a defect in an argument; a defect in a machine. |
| 2. | lack or want, esp. of something essential to perfection or completeness; deficiency: a defect in hearing. |
| 3. | Also called crystal defect, lattice defect. Crystallography. a discontinuity in the lattice of a crystal caused by missing or extra atoms or ions, or by dislocations. |
| 4. | to desert a cause, country, etc., esp. in order to adopt another (often fol. by from or to): He defected from the U.S.S.R to the West. |
[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < L défectus failure, weakness, equiv. to défec- var. s. of déficere to run short, fail, weaken (see deficient) + -tus suffix of v. action]
] —Related forms
de·fect·i·ble, adjective
de·fect·i·bil·i·ty, noun
de·fect·less, adjective
—Synonyms 1. 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.).
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
Defect
To learn more about Defect visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| de·fect
Audio Help (dē'fěkt', dĭ-fěkt') Pronunciation Key
n.
intr.v. (dĭ-fěkt') de·fect·ed, de·fect·ing, de·fects
[Middle English, from Latin dēfectus, failure, want, from past participle of dēficere, to desert, be wanting : dē-, de- + facere, to do; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.] de·fec'tion n., de·fec'tor n. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
defect (n.)
c.1420, from L. defectus "failure, revolt," from pp. of deficere "to fail, desert" (see deficient). Defection "falling away from a leader, party, or cause" is first recorded 1546, originally of faith. Defective was a euphemism for "mentally ill" from 1898 to c.1935.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| defect | |
noun | |
| 1. | an imperfection in a bodily system; "visual defects"; "this device permits detection of defects in the lungs" |
| 2. | a failing or deficiency; "that interpretation is an unfortunate defect of our lack of information" |
| 3. | an imperfection in an object or machine; "a flaw caused the crystal to shatter"; "if there are any defects you should send it back to the manufacturer" |
| 4. | a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body); "a facial blemish" [syn: blemish] |
verb | |
| 1. | desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army; "If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
defect [ˈdiːfekt] noun
a fault or flaw
Example: It was a basic defect in her character; a defect in the china
defect [ˈdiːfektdiˈfekt] verbExample: It was a basic defect in her character; a defect in the china
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to leave a country, political party etc to go and join another; to desert
Example: He defected to the West.
See also: defection, defectiveExample: He defected to the West.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
defect
bug
| The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe |
Defect
De*fect"\, n. [L. defectus, fr. deficere, defectum, to desert, fail, be wanting; de- + facere to make, do. See Fact, Feat, and cf. Deficit.]1. Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or perfection; deficiency; -- opposed to superfluity. Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied. --Davies. 2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish; as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment. Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know, Make use of every friend -- and every foe. --Pope. Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects. --Macaulay. Syn: Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Defect
De*fect"\, v. i. To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." --Warner.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Defect
De*fect"\, v. t. To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] --Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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