Main Entry:

¹de·fect

Pronunciation:

\ˈdē-ˌfekt, di-ˈ\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin defectus lack, from deficere to desert, fail, from de- + facere to do — more at do

Date:

15th century

1 a: an imperfection that impairs worth or utility : shortcoming <the grave defects in our foreign policy> b: an imperfection (as a vacancy or an unlike atom) in a crystal lattice2 [Latin defectus] : a lack of something necessary for completeness, adequacy, or perfection : deficiency <a hearing defect>