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defective
6 dictionary results for: defective
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
de·fec·tive       [di-fek-tiv] Pronunciation Key
–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 défectīvus, equiv. to défectus (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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
de·fec·tive       (dĭ-fěk'tĭv)  Pronunciation Key 
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.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
defective

adjective
1. having a defect; "I returned the appliance because it was defective" 
2. markedly subnormal in structure or function or intelligence or behavior; "defective speech" 
3. not working properly; "a bad telephone connection"; "a defective appliance" [syn: bad] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Defective

De*fect"ive\, a. [L. defectivus: cf. F. d['e]fectif. See Defect.]

1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account; a defective character; defective rules.

2. (Gram.) Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation; as, a defective noun or verb. -- De*fect"ive*ly, adv. -- De*fect"ive*ness, n.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Defective

De*fect"ive\, n. 1. Anything that is defective or lacking in some respect.

2. (Med.) One who is lacking physically or mentally.

Note: Under the term defectives are included deaf-mutes, the blind, the feeble-minded, the insane, and sometimes, esp. in criminology, criminals and paupers.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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