defect
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1de·fect
noun \ˈdē-ˌfekt, di-ˈ\Definition of DEFECT
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>
See Examples of DEFECT
- They examine their products for defects.
- She was born with a heart defect.
- Vanity and pride were his two worst character defects.
Origin of DEFECT
Middle English, from Latin defectus lack, from deficere to desert, fail, from de- + facere to do — more at do
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to DEFECT
- Synonyms
- blight, blotch, blemish, deformity, disfigurement, excrescence, excrescency, fault, flaw, imperfection, mar, mark, pockmark, scar
Rhymes with DEFECT
abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked
2de·fect
intransitive verb \di-ˈfekt\Definition of DEFECT
1
: to forsake one cause, party, or nation for another often because of a change in ideology
2
: to leave one situation (as a job) often to go over to a rival <the reporter defected to another network>
— de·fec·tor \-ˈfek-tər\ noun
Examples of DEFECT
- The Russian scholar defected in 1979.
- She defected from the conservative party.
- He defected to the West before the war began.
- The reporter defected to another TV network.
Origin of DEFECT
Latin defectus, past participle of deficere
First Known Use: 1596
de·fect
noun \ˈdē-ˌfekt, di-ˈ\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of DEFECT
: a lack or deficiency of something necessary for adequacy in form or function <a hearing defect>
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