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imperfect - 7 dictionary results

im⋅per⋅fect

  [im-pur-fikt]
Use imperfect in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or characterized by defects or weaknesses: imperfect vision.
2. not perfect; lacking completeness: imperfect knowledge.
3. Grammar. noting action or state still in process at some temporal point of reference, particularly in the past.
4. Law. being without legal effect or support; unenforceable.
5. Botany. (of a flower) diclinous.
6. Music. of or relating to the interval of a major or minor third or sixth. Compare perfect (def. 12a).
–noun Grammar.
7. the imperfect tense.
8. another verb formation or construction with imperfect meaning.
9. a form in the imperfect, as Latin portābam, “I was carrying.”
Origin:
1300–50; < L imperfectus unfinished (see im- 2 , perfect ); r. ME imparfit < MF imparfait < L, as above

Related forms:
im⋅per⋅fect⋅ly, adverb
im⋅per⋅fect⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. defective, faulty. 2. incomplete, underdeveloped; immature.

Antonyms:
2. complete, developed.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To imperfect
im·per·fect   (ĭm-pûr'fĭkt)   
adj.  
  1. Not perfect.
  2. Grammar Of or being the tense of a verb that shows, usually in the past, an action or a condition as incomplete, continuous, or coincident with another action.
  3. Botany Having either stamens or a pistil only. Used of a flower.
  4. Law Not legally enforceable: an imperfect contract.
n.  
  1. A piece of merchandise having a minor flaw that does not impair its use, usually sold at a discount.
  2. Abbr. imp. or imperf. Grammar
    1. The imperfect tense.
    2. A verb in the imperfect tense.

[Middle English imparfit, from Old French imparfait, from Latin imperfectus : in-, not; see in-1 + perfectus, perfect; see perfect.]
im·per'fect·ly adv., im·per'fect·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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Imperfect

Im*per"fect\, a. [L. imperfectus: pref. im- not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See Perfect.]

1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient.

Something he left imperfect in the state. --Shak.

Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect. --Shak.

2. Wanting in some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity.

He . . . stammered like a child, or an amazed, imperfect person. --Jer. Taylor.

3. Not fulfilling its design; not realizing an ideal; not conformed to a standard or rule; not satisfying the taste or conscience; esthetically or morally defective.

Nothing imperfect or deficient left Of all that he created. --Milton.

Then say not man's imperfect, Heaven in fault; Say rather, man's as perfect as he ought. --Pope.

Imperfect arch, an arch of less than a semicircle; a skew arch.

Imperfect cadence (Mus.), one not ending with the tonic, but with the dominant or some other chord; one not giving complete rest; a half close.

Imperfect consonances (Mus.), chords like the third and sixth, whose ratios are less simple than those of the fifth and forth.

Imperfect flower (Bot.), a flower wanting either stamens or pistils. --Gray.

Imperfect interval (Mus.), one a semitone less than perfect; as, an imperfect fifth.

Imperfect number (Math.), a number either greater or less than the sum of its several divisors; in the former case, it is called also a defective number; in the latter, an abundant number.

Imperfect obligations (Law), obligations as of charity or gratitude, which cannot be enforced by law.

Imperfect power (Math.), a number which can not be produced by taking any whole number or vulgar fraction, as a factor, the number of times indicated by the power; thus, 9 is a perfect square, but an imperfect cube.

Imperfect tense (Gram), a tense expressing past time and incomplete action.

Imperfect

Im*per"fect\, n. (Gram.) The imperfect tense; or the form of a verb denoting the imperfect tense.

Imperfect

Im*per"fect\, v. t. To make imperfect. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : imperfect
Spanish: imperfecto,
German: unvollkommen,
Japanese: 欠陥のある
More Translations »

imperfect 
c.1340, imperfite, from O.Fr. imparfait, from L. imperfectus "unfinished, incomplete." Replaced mid-1500s by L. form.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: im·per·fect
Function: adjective
: not perfect or complete: as a : not enforceable : enforceable only under certain conditions imperfect obligation> b : lacking an element otherwise required by law —compare PERFECT
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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