Etymology

< Middle English defaicte < Latin defectus ("a failure, lack") < deficere ("to fail, lack, literally 'undo'"), pp. defectus < de- ("priv.") + facere ("to do").

Pronunciation

• (noun) enPR: dē'fĕkt, IPA: /ˈdiːfɛkt/, SAMPA: /"di:fEkt/
• Audio (US) ^[?]
• (verb) enPR: dĭfĕkt', IPA: /dɪˈfɛkt/, SAMPA: /dI"fEkt/

Noun

defect (plural defects)

1. A fault or malfunction.

Related terms

• deficiency
• deficient
• deficit
• defective

Verb

to defect (third-person singular simple present defects, present participle defecting, simple past and past participle defected)

1. (intransitive) To abandon or turn against; to cease or change one's loyalty.

Derived terms

• defection
• defector

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