Defeat definition
To prevent the success of; thwart.
Internal strife defeats the purpose of teamwork.
verb
To defeat is defined as to beat someone at something or to prevent something from happening.
When you beat your opponent in a race, this is an example of a situation where you defeat your opponent.
When you prevent a bill from becoming a law, this is an example of a situation where you defeat the bill.
verb
Frustration.
noun
To do better than (another) in a competition or battle; win victory over; beat.
verb
Defeat is defined as the state of being beaten or having lost.
When you have just lost a race, this is an example of a situation where you feel defeat.
noun
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To frustrate the enforcement of (a motion, for example).
verb
To make (an estate, for example) void; annul.
verb
To dishearten or dispirit.
The last setback defeated her, and she gave up.
verb
To be beyond the comprehension of; mystify.
How the children found their way back home defeats me.
verb
A coming to naught; frustration.
The defeat of a lifelong dream.
noun
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The act of defeating an opponent.
The home team's defeat of their rivals.
noun
The state of being defeated; failure to win.
The home team's defeat by their rivals.
noun
The act of overcoming or frustrating the enforcement of.
noun
(law) The act of making null and void.
noun
To win victory over; overcome; beat.
verb
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(obs.) To undo; destroy.
verb
The act of defeating, or gaining victory.
noun
Nullification.
noun
The act of defeating or being defeated.
noun
The fact of being defeated.
noun
To make null and void.
verb
To bring to nothing; frustrate.
Defeating our plans.
verb
Origin of defeat
- Middle English defeten from defet disfigured from Old French desfait past participle of desfaire to destroy from Medieval Latin disfacere to destroy, mutilate, undo Latin dis- dis- Latin facere to do dhē- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary