default
362
de·fault¹ /dɪˈfɔlt/ v [I] to fail to fulfil a contract, agreement, or duty, especially a) [(on)] to fail to pay a debt: He defaulted on his payments for support of the child. b) to fail to take part in a competition —er n
default² n 1 [U] failure to do something that is demanded by duty or law, such as paying one's debts or appearing at the proper time in a court of law 2 [U] failure to take part in a competition: She won by default because her opponent refused to play. 3 [C] a particular way that a computer system will perform an operation, except if the user gives it different instructions 4 in default of because of the absence or lack of
de·feat¹ /dɪˈfiːt/ v [T] 1 to win a victory over, e.g. in a war, competition, or game; beat: After a long campaign, the Duke of Wellington's army defeated Napoleon. | The English team was defeated by three goals to one. | The Opposition's motion was heavily defeated in Congress. | (fig.) I've tried to understand your idea, but I'm afraid it defeats me. → see WIN (USAGE) 2 to cause to fail; FRUSTRATE: It was lack of money, not of effort, that defeated their plan. → see also SELF-DEFEATING
defeat² n 1 [C;U] (an example of) being defeated: The government has suffered a serious defeat. | They remained dignified in defeat. | After several defeats, the team is now doing well again. 2 [U] the act of defeating: the defeat of our enemies → opposite VICTORY
de·feat·ism /dɪˈfiːtɪzəm/ n [U] derog the practice of thinking or talking in a way that shows an expectation of being unsuccessful —ist n, adj: Don't be such a defeatist! | a defeatist attitude
def·e·cate /ˈdefkeɪt/ v [I] fml to pass waste matter from the bowels —cation /ˌdefˈkeɪən/ n [U]
de·fect¹ /ˈdiːfekt, dɪˈfekt/ n something missing or imperfect; fault: Before they leave the factory, all the cars are carefully tested for defects. | a hearing defect
de·fect² /dɪˈfekt/ v [(from, to)] to desert a political party, group, or country, especially in order to join an opposing one: She defected to the West. —or n: political defectors —ion /-'fekʃən/ n [C;U] several defections from the Labour Party | What caused his defection?
de·fec·tive /dɪˈfektɪv/ adj 1 not working properly; faulty: defective machinery/hearing 2 (of a person) well below the average, especially in mind → see also MENTAL DEFECTIVE 3 tech lacking one or more of the usual forms of grammar: 'Must' and 'can' are defective verbs. —ly adv —ness n [U]
de·fence¹ BrE || usually defense AmE /dɪˈfens/ n 1 [U] the act or process of defending: the defence of one's country | the art of self-defence | He spoke in defence of justice/the government's record. → see also CIVIL DEFENCE, SELF-DEFENCE 2 [C;U] means, methods, or things used in defending: government spending on defence | The defences of the city are strong. | She caught him when his defences were down. | Trees are a defence against the wind. | Good strong locks are the best defence against burglars. 3 [C usually sing.] arguments used in defending oneself, especially in a court of law: The prisoner's defence was rather weak. | She said, in her defence, that she had not seen the 'No Parking' sign. 4 [the S+sing./pl. v] the defendant in a court case together with his/her lawyer or lawyers: The defence have/has asked for an adjournment. → compare PROSECUTION —less adj
defence² BrE || usually defense AmE /dɪˈfens||ˈdiːfens/ n 1 [C+sing./pl. v] the part of a team that tries to defend its own GOAL in a match 2 [C] a set of moves or methods used in defending, especially in CHESS: Her defence crumbled.
de·fence ˌmechanism n 1 a process in the brain which makes one forget about things that are difficult or painful to accept 2 a reaction by the body to fight illness: These glands in your neck have come up as a defence mechanism to fight the infection in your mouth.
de·fend /dɪˈfend/ v 1 [T(against, from)] to keep safe from harm; protect against attack: The country cannot be defended against a nuclear attack. | When the dog came towards me I picked up a stick to defend myself. | The union said they would take action to defend their members' jobs. 2 [I;T] (in sports) to protect (a position) so as to keep an opponent from advancing, making points, or winning: They defended (their goal) with great skill. 3 [T] to act as a lawyer for (the person who has been charged) → compare PROSECUTE 4 [T] to use arguments to support, protect, or show the rightness of; JUSTIFY: How can you defend the killing of animals for scientific research? → see also DEFENCE, DEFENSIVE —er n
de·fen·dant /dɪˈfendənt/ n a person against whom a charge is brought in a court of law. In Britain and the US a defendant is considered to be INNOCENT until the police and the lawyers have proved his/her guilt to the JURY beyond all reasonable doubt. → compare PLAINTIFF
de·fen·der /dɪˈfendər/ n (in sports) one of the players who tries to defend his or her team's GOAL in a match
Deˌfender of the ˈFaith a title used by British kings and queens since Henry VIII, who was given it by Pope Leo X in 1521 because he wrote a paper attacking the ideas of Martin LUTHER
defense v AmE for DEFENCE¹,²
de·fen·si·ble /dɪˈfensɪbəl/ adj that can be defended: a defensible fortress/position | His behaviour was perfectly defensible. —bly adv
de·fen·sive¹ /dɪˈfensv/ adj 1 that defends; used or intended for defence: defensive weapons/tactics | a defensive position/alliance → opposite OFFENSIVE 2 sometimes derog (of a person or behaviour) seeming to expect disapproval or attack: She became very defensive when I asked her how much the car had cost. —ly adv —ness n [U]
defensive² n on the defensive sometimes derog prepared for disapproval or attack, because one is expecting it
de·fer /dɪˈfɜːr/ v -rr- [T] to delay until a later date; POSTPONE: Let's defer the decision for a few weeks. | His military service was deferred until he finished college. —ment n [C;U]
defer to sbdy./sthg. phr v -rr- [T] humor or fml to agree to accept the opinion or decision of (someone), especially because of respect: I'll be happy to defer to your advice/to your greater experience in these matters.
def·er·ence /ˈdefərəns/ n [U] fml regard for the wishes, opinions etc of another person, because of one's respect or love for them, or because of the other person's higher position or greater power: We treated her advice with due deference. | They were married in church out of/in deference to their parents' wishes. —ential /ˌdefəˈrenʃəl/ adj —entially adv
de·fi·ance /dɪˈfaɪəns/ n [U] defiant behaviour or a defiant manner; open disobedience: She acted in defiance of my orders/of the law. | He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.
de·fi·ant /dɪˈfaɪənt/ adj openly and fearlessly refusing to obey, especially in a way that shows no respect: a defiant child/attitude | With a last defiant gesture, they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison. —ly adv
de·fib·ril·la·tor /diːˈfɪbrɪleɪtəʳ/ n a machine that gives the heart an electric shock to make it start beating again after a heart attack
de·fi·cien·cy /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/ n [C;U] (a case of) the quality of being deficient; lack: vitamin deficiency | The deficiencies in the system soon became obvious.
deˌficiency disˌease n [C;U] (a) disease caused by a lack of one or more food substances necessary for health
de·fi·cient /dɪˈfɪʃənt/ adj [(in)] having none or not enough (of); lacking (in); INADEQUATE: food deficient in iron | a deficient supply of water | deficient in skill —ly adv
def·i·cit /ˈdefsɪt/ n the amount by which something is less than what is needed, especially the amount by which money that goes out is more than money that comes in: The directors have reported a deficit of £2.5 million.
de·file¹ /dɪˈfaɪl/ v [T] fml to destroy the pureness of: The animals defiled the water. | disgusting video films that defile the minds of the young —filer n —ment n [U]
de·file² /dɪˈfaɪl, ˈdiːfaɪl/ n a narrow passage, especially through mountains
de·fine /dɪˈfaɪn/ v [T] 1 to give the meaning of (a word or idea); describe exactly: Some words are hard to define because they have many different uses. 2 to explain the exact qualities, limits, duties etc of: The powers of the President are defined in the constitution. | This book attempts to define the position of the national government in local affairs. 3 to