noun , verb
■ noun
/ ˈdiːfekt; NAmE ; dɪˈfekt/ a fault in sth or in the way it has been made which means that it is not perfect :
a speech defect
a defect in the glass
■ verb
/dɪˈfekt/ [ v ] defect (from sth) (to sth) to leave a political party, country, etc. to join another that is considered to be an enemy
► de·fec·tion / dɪˈfekʃn; NAmE / noun [ U , C ] defection (from sth) (to sth) :
There have been several defections from the ruling party.
► de·fect·or noun
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WORD ORIGIN
noun late Middle English (as a noun, influenced by Old French defect deficiency): from Latin defectus , past participle of deficere desert or fail, from de- (expressing reversal) + facere do.
verb late 16th cent.: from Latin defect- failed, from the verb deficere desert or fail, from de- (expressing reversal) + facere do.