defect

SayDEE-fekt/ˈdiːfɛkt/

As a verbdi-FEKT

7 meanings of defect

1
nouncountable
A fault or problem that stops something from working the way it should.
Like a crack in a cup that makes it leak.
The new phone had a defect that made the screen flicker.
Workers found a small defect in the metal frame.
Similarfault, flaw, imperfection, malfunction
Note
2
verbintransitive
To leave a group you belonged to and support its rival instead.
Like quitting one team to play for the team you used to compete against.
Several players chose to defect to the rival team.
He decided to defect from the party after years of disagreement.
Similardesert, switch
Note
3
verbintransitive
To escape from your own country and ask another country to let you stay safely.
Like leaving home for good and asking the neighbors to take you in.
The scientist planned to defect and start a new life abroad.
Many citizens tried to defect during the years of harsh rule.
Similarflee, escape
Note
4
verbintransitive
To run away from your own army and leave the fighting.
Like a player walking off the field and leaving the game halfway through.
Frightened soldiers began to defect as the battle turned against them.
He chose to defect rather than face another assault.
Similardesert
Note
5
verbintransitive
To leave your own army and fight for the enemy instead.
Like switching to the other team in the middle of a game and helping them win.
Several guards chose to defect and fight for the other side.
He planned to defect to the enemy with secret maps.
Similardesert
6
nouncountable
The amount by which something is less than a needed or expected total.
Like being short a few coins when you count out the money you owe.
The budget showed a defect of nearly a thousand dollars.
There was a small defect between what we needed and what we had.
Similarshortfall, deficit, shortage, deficiency
Oppositesurplus, excess
Note
7
nouncountable
The amount by which a number or shape falls short of a full or expected value.
Like measuring how much is missing from a full circle.
Mathematicians measured the defect of the shape at each corner.
Each corner of the cube has a defect of ninety degrees.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin defectus, meaning "a failure or lack." It comes from a verb that meant "to fail" or literally "to undo."