DEFECT


Meaning of DEFECT in English

I. ˈdē-ˌfekt, di-ˈ noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin defectus lack, from deficere to desert, fail, from de- + facere to do — more at do

Date: 15th century

1.

a. : an imperfection that impairs worth or utility : shortcoming

the grave defect s in our foreign policy

b. : an imperfection (as a vacancy or an unlike atom) in a crystal lattice

2.

[Latin defectus ]

: a lack of something necessary for completeness, adequacy, or perfection : deficiency

a hearing defect

II. di-ˈfekt intransitive verb

Etymology: Latin defectus, past participle of deficere

Date: 1596

1. : to forsake one cause, party, or nation for another often because of a change in ideology

2. : to leave one situation (as a job) often to go over to a rival

the reporter defect ed to another network

• de·fec·tor -ˈfek-tər noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.