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 lattice
2 [Latin defectus] : a lack of something necessary for completeness, adequacy, or perfection : deficiency <a hearing defect>