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defect - 11 dictionary results

de⋅fect

[n. dee-fekt, di-fekt; v. di-fekt]
–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


de⋅fect⋅i⋅ble, adjective
de⋅fect⋅i⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
de⋅fect⋅less, adjective


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.).
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.

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).
Language Translation for : defect
Spanish: defecto,
German: der Fehler,
Japanese: 欠点

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.

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/ adjectivede·fec·tive·ly adverbde·fec·tive·ness noun

Main Entry: de·fect
Pronunciation: 'dE-"fekt, di-'
Function: noun
: a lack or deficiency of something necessary for adequacy in form or function defect>

defect de·fect (dē'fěkt', dĭ-fěkt')
n.
A lack of or abnormality in something necessary for normal functioning; a deficiency or imperfection.

defect
bug

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.

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