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defective

 - 5 dictionary results

de⋅fec⋅tive

  [di-fek-tiv]
Use defective in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having a defect or flaw; faulty; imperfect: a defective machine.
2. Psychology. characterized by subnormal intelligence or behavior.
3. Grammar. (of an inflected word or its inflection) lacking one or more of the inflected forms proper to most words of the same class in the language, as English must, which occurs only in the present tense.
–noun
4. a defective person or thing.
Origin:
1375–1425; < LL dēfectīvus, equiv. to dēfectus (see defect ) + -īvus -ive; r. ME defectif < MF < LL, as above

Related forms:
de⋅fec⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
de⋅fec⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. incomplete, deficient.

Antonyms:
1. perfect, complete.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To defective
de·fec·tive   (dĭ-fěk'tĭv)   
adj.  

    1. Having a defect; faulty: a defective appliance.

    2. Marked by subnormal structure, function, intelligence, or behavior: defective speech.

  2. Grammar Lacking one or more of the inflected forms normal for a particular category of word, as the verb may in English.

n.   Offensive
One who is physically or mentally deficient.
de·fec'tive·ly adv., de·fec'tive·ness 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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1de·fec·tive
Pronunciation: di-'fek-tiv
Function: adjective
: falling below the norm in structure or in mental orphysical function <defective eyesight> —de·fec·tive·ness /-n&s/ noun

Main Entry: 2defective
Function: noun
: one that is subnormal physically or mentally
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

defective de·fec·tive (dĭ-fěk'tĭv)
n.

  1. Having an imperfection or malformation.

  2. Lacking or deficient in some physical or mental function.

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