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defect - 11 dictionary results
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de⋅fect

  [n. dee-fekt, di-fekt; v. di-fekt]
Use defect in a Sentence
–noun
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.
–verb (used without object)
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 dēfectus failure, weakness, equiv. to dēfec- var. s. of dēficere 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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To defect
de·fect   (dē'fěkt', dĭ-fěkt')   
n.  
  1. The lack of something necessary or desirable for completion or perfection; a deficiency: a visual defect.
  2. An imperfection that causes inadequacy or failure; a shortcoming. See Synonyms at blemish.
intr.v.   (dĭ-fěkt') de·fect·ed, de·fect·ing, de·fects
  1. To disown allegiance to one's country and take up residence in another: a Soviet citizen who defected to Israel.
  2. To abandon a position or association, often to join an opposing group: defected from the party over the issue of free trade.

[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 © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

Defect

De*fect"\, v. i. To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." --Warner.

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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Language Translation for : defect
Spanish: defecto,
German: der Fehler,
Japanese: 欠点
More Translations »

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
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Main Entry: de·fect
Pronunciation: 'dE-"fekt, di-'fekt
Function: noun
: something or a lack of something that results in incompleteness, inadequacy, or imperfection: as a : a flaw in something (as a product) esp. that creates an unreasonable risk of harm in its normal use —see also LATENT DEFECT b : an error or omission in a court document (as an indictment or pleading) c : some imperfection in the chain of title to property that makes the title unmarketable —de·fec·tive /di-'fek-tiv/ adjective —de·fec·tive·ly adverb —de·fec·tive·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: de·fect
Pronunciation: 'dE-"fekt, di-'
Function: noun
: a lack or deficiency of something necessary for adequacy in form or function defect>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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defect de·fect (dē'fěkt', dĭ-fěkt')
n.
A lack of or abnormality in something necessary for normal functioning; a deficiency or imperfection.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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defect
bug

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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defect

imperfection in the regular geometrical arrangement of the atoms in a crystalline solid. These imperfections result from deformation of the solid, rapid cooling from high temperature, or high-energy radiation (X-rays or neutrons) striking the solid. Located at single points, along lines, or on whole surfaces in the solid, these defects influence its mechanical, electrical, and optical behaviour.

Learn more about defect with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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