deform Hear it!

deform Definition

de·form (dē fôrm, di-)

transitive verb

  1. to impair the form or shape of
  2. to make ugly; disfigure
  3. Physics to change the shape of by pressure or stress

Etymology: ME deformen < OFr deformer < L deformare < de-, from + forma, form

intransitive verb

to become deformed

deform Synonyms

deform

v.

distort, disfigure, deface, injure; see damage 1, distort 3. See syn. study at distort.

deform Usage Examples

Object

  • toe: Back to top What problems do deformed toes cause?
  • nucleus: Macroscopically, or classically, deformed nuclei can rotate ever more faster to produce a collective spin.
  • mesh: These axes have been duplicated and projected to produce a deformed spatial mesh across the whole of the central island.
  • limb: He lit the candle and stared at his poor deformed limb.
  • sphere: In fact, a pea is quite a good image for a deformed sphere.
  • crystal: Note how the angle of the fracture surfaces mimics the angle of the slip planes in the deformed crystal.

Adjective complement

  • due: Growing fish can become severely and permanently deformed due to vitamin deficiencies.

Modifying Another Word

  • plastically: Ductile metals under high stress levels initially deform plastically at a definite yield point point or progressively yield.
  • hideously: At the end of each day, the Chief winds them down with the saga of a hideously deformed, gentle, world-class criminal.
  • axially: The extension to a nucleus with an axially deformed ground state is straightforward.
  • grossly: Tension structure design is normally carried out in three stages: A 2D membrane is grossly deformed to create the correct 3D membrane shape.
  • permanently: Growing fish can become severely and permanently deformed due to vitamin deficiencies.
  • progressively: As we become progressively deformed - even in only tiny ways - different muscles learn to compensate.

Used with why or when

  • when: Hooke's Law can be used to find out how much concrete and steel beams in buildings deform when they are loaded.

Preposition: in

  • way: If the bone is deformed in a way that is typical of the disease, it is an easy diagnosis.
  • manner: This steel grade is very strong but still ductile enough to make sure that the safety cage deforms in a controlled manner.
  • accident: But he was unable to follow because his right foot was deformed in a childhood accident.

Preposition: under

  • stress: New methods to see inside them as they deform under stress are urgently needed.
  • tension: A cubic close-packed ( cubic F ) metal is deformed under tension.

Preposition: by

  • pressure: The part deformed by the flow pressure is shown in red.

Browse dictionary entries near deform

  1. deforest
  2. deforciant
  3. deforce
  4. defoliate
  5. defoliant
  6. defogger
  7. Defoe
  8. deflower
  9. defloration
  10. deflexion
  1. deformation
  2. deformed
  3. deformity
  4. defraud
  5. defray
  6. defrock
  7. defrost
  8. defroster
  9. deft
  10. defunct