Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense defects, present participle defecting, past tense, past participle defectedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (diːfekt). The verb is pronounced (dɪfekt).
1. countable noun
A defect is a fault or imperfection in a person or thing.
He was born with a hearing defect.
...a defect in the aircraft caused the crash.
A report has pointed out the defects of the present system.
Synonyms: deficiency, want, failing, lack More Synonyms of defect
2. verb
If you defect, you leave your country, political party, or other group, and join an opposing country,party, or group.
25 per cent of its listed client base defect to rival auditors. [V + to/from]
He defected from the party in the late 1970s. [Vto/from n]
...a KGB officer who defected in 1963. [VERB]
Synonyms: desert, rebel, quit, revolt More Synonyms of defect
...the defection of at least sixteen Parliamentary deputies.
Synonyms: desertion, revolt, rebellion, abandonment More Synonyms of defect
defect in British English
noun (dɪˈfɛkt, ˈdiːfɛkt)
1.
a lack of something necessary for completeness or perfection; shortcoming; deficiency
2.
an imperfection, failing, or blemish
3. crystallography
a local deviation from regularity in the crystal lattice of a solid
See also point defect, dislocation (sense 3)
verb (dɪˈfɛkt)
4. (intransitive)
to desert one's country, cause, allegiance, etc, esp in order to join the opposing forces
Derived forms
defector (deˈfector)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin dēfectus, from dēficere to forsake, fail; see deficient
defect in American English
(ˈdiˌfɛkt; also, and for v. always, diˈfɛkt; dɪˈfɛkt)
noun
1.
lack of something necessary for completeness; deficiency; shortcoming
2.
an imperfection or weakness; fault; flaw; blemish
verb intransitive
3.
to forsake a party or cause, esp. so as to join the opposition
4.
to leave one's country because of disapproval of its political policies and settle in another that opposes such policies
SYNONYMY NOTE: defect implies a lack of something essential to completeness or perfection [a defect in vision]; an imperfection is any faulty detail that detracts from perfection [minor imperfections of style]; a blemish is a superficial or surface imperfection that mars the appearance [skin blemishes]; a flaw1 is an imperfection in structure or substance, such as a crack or gap, that mars thewholeness or continuity [a flaw in a metal bar]
Derived forms
defector (deˈfector)
noun
Word origin
ME < L defectus < deficere, to undo, fail < de-, from + facere, to do1
Examples of 'defect' in a sentence
defect
Anyone who finds a serious safety defect in their vehicle should report it to us.
The Sun (2016)
Its most significant application is likely to be through direct use of the technology to intervene in genetic defects in humans.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Born with a congenital defect, he had to undergo open heart surgery to repair two holes before he reached six months.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Within two days we knew that what was up was a serious congenital heart defect.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The lack of legal aid is only one defect with the inquest system.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She keeps wondering if she passed on some sort of genetic defect.
The Sun (2013)
He said that his information was based on conversations with fellow intelligence officers before he defected.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We fear that there are still very serious defects in the method of medical examination for recruits.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What if others from the ruling party defected to his side at the ballot box.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They can cause birth defects and cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Other drug use can also result in congenital defects.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
Two others miscarried and another gave birth to an infant with serious health defects.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The parents have had tests to see if a genetic defect caused the deaths.
The Sun (2013)
It was nine years since she had had a heart valve inserted to counter a congenital defect.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Buyers who want to check on inherited defects find that the internet is a valuable source of information.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Building or structural survey: technical report on any structural defects and other faults.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Its website allows drivers to report safety defects with cars, which can trigger an investigation by the vehicle manufacturer.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In addition, families were becoming less reluctant to report defects that in the past had been concealed out of shame.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If they want either within the first six months after the sale it is presumed that the fault or defect was present at the time of sale.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The centre-left party has imploded since leading Greece into crisis with scores of its members defecting to other parties.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In the case of hostages and prisoners of war, numerous attempts to find supposed personality defects that predisposed captives to "brainwashing' have yielded few consistent results.
Herman, Judith Lewis Trauma and Recovery (1992)
In other languages
defect
British English: defect /'diːfɛkt/ NOUN
A defect is a fault or imperfection in a person or thing.
He was born with a hearing defect.
American English: defect
Arabic: خَلَل
Brazilian Portuguese: defeito
Chinese: 缺陷
Croatian: nedostatak
Czech: vada
Danish: defekt
Dutch: defect
European Spanish: defecto
Finnish: vika
French: défaut
German: Schaden
Greek: ελάττωμα
Italian: difetto
Japanese: 欠陥
Korean: 결점
Norwegian: mangel
Polish: wada usterka
European Portuguese: defeito
Romanian: defect
Russian: дефект
Latin American Spanish: defecto
Swedish: brist fel
Thai: ข้อบกพร่อง
Turkish: kusur
Ukrainian: дефект
Vietnamese: khuyết điểm
All related terms of 'defect'
mass defect
the amount by which the mass of a particular nucleus is less than the total mass of its constituent particles
birth defect
an inherited disease or condition that a baby is born with
latent defect
a fault in a property which would not be discovered by a thorough inspection prior to buying it
point defect
an imperfection in a crystal, characterized by one unoccupied lattice position or one interstitial atom, molecule, or ion
speech defect
a disorder of speech
Frenkel defect
a crystal defect in which a lattice ion has moved to an interstitial position leaving a vacant lattice site
hearing defect
a physical condition that makes it difficult for a person to hear accurately
Schottky defect
a crystal defect in which vacancies exist in the lattice
congenital defect
See birth defect
neural tube defect
a result of incomplete development of the structure in mammalian embryos that develops into the brain and spinal cord . Spina bifida in a newborn babies is an example of a neural-tube defect .
Chinese translation of 'defect'
defect
(nˈdiːfɛkt; vbdɪˈfɛkt)
n(c)
(= flaw) 缺点(點) (quēdiǎn) (个(個), gè)
vi
to defect (to/from)背叛(投奔于(於)/了) (bèipàn (tóubèn yú/le))
hearing defect听(聽)觉(覺)缺陷 (tīngjué quēxiàn)
(noun)
Definition
an imperfection or blemish
The report pointed out the defects in the present system.
Synonyms
deficiency
the most serious deficiency in their air defence
want
The men were daily becoming weaker for want of rest.
failing
We are often unaware of our own failings.
lack
Despite his lack of experience, he got the job.
mistake
Spelling mistakes are often just the result of haste.
fault
His manners always made her blind to his faults.
error
NASA discovered a mathematical error in its calculations.
absence
In the absence of a will, the courts decide who the guardian is.
weakness
His main weakness was his bad temper.
flaw
The only flaw in his character is a short temper.
shortcoming
His book has its shortcomings.
inadequacy
We all make an effort to ignore our own inadequacies.
imperfection
He concedes that there are imperfections in the socialist system.
frailty
She is aware of his faults and frailties.
foible
human foibles and weaknesses
(verb)
Definition
to desert one's country or cause to join the opposing forces
She insisted that customers who had defected to cheaper coffee shops would return eventually.
Synonyms
desert
He deserted from the army last month.
rebel
Poverty-stricken citizens could rise up and rebel.
quit
Police were called when he refused to quit the building.
revolt
The townspeople revolted.
change sides
apostatize
tergiversate
phrasal verb
See defect from something or someone
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absence
Definition
the fact of being without something
In the absence of a will, the courts decide who the guardian is.
Synonyms
lack,
defect,
deficiency,
default,
deprivation,
omission,
scarcity,
want,
need,
shortage,
dearth,
privation (formal),
unavailability,
nonexistence
in the sense of apostatize
Synonyms
desert,
defect,
renege,
backslide,
turn traitor
in the sense of error
Definition
a mistake, inaccuracy, or misjudgment
NASA discovered a mathematical error in its calculations.