defect Hear it!

defect definition

de·fect (dē′fekt′; also, and for v. always, dē fekt′, di-)

noun

  1. lack of something necessary for completeness; deficiency; shortcoming
  2. an imperfection or weakness; fault; flaw; blemish

Etymology: ME < L defectus < deficere, to undo, fail < de-, from + facere, to do

intransitive verb

  1. to forsake a party or cause, esp. so as to join the opposition
  2. to leave one's country because of disapproval of its political policies and settle in another that opposes such policies

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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