NOUN 1 a fault or flaw in something
VERB 2 If someone defects, they leave their own country or organization and join an opposing one.
defection NOUN defector NOUN
defective
ADJECTIVE Something that is defective is not perfect or has something wrong with it.
defence defences
NOUN 1 something that protects you against attack • She carried an alarm as a defence against muggers.
2 A country’s defences are its armed forces and its weapons.
defend defends, defending, defended
VERB 1 If you defend someone or something, you protect them from harm or danger.
2 If you defend a person or their ideas, you argue in support of them.
defendant defendants
NOUN a person in a court of law who is accused of a crime
defer defers, deferring, deferred
VERB If you defer something, you put off doing it until later.
defiant
ADJECTIVE If you are defiant, you behave in a way that shows you are not willing to obey someone.
defiance NOUN defiantly ADVERB
deficient
ADJECTIVE lacking in something
deficiency NOUN
define defines, defining, defined
VERB If you define something, you say what it is or what it means.
definite
ADJECTIVE 1 clear and unlikely to be changed • We must arrange a definite date for the party.
2 true rather than being someone’s guess or opinion
There is no a in definite.
definitely
ADVERB OR EXCLAMATION certainly; without doubt • I am definitely going on holiday next week.
definition definitions
NOUN a statement explaining the meaning of a word or an idea
deflate deflates, deflating, deflated
VERB If you deflate something, such as a tyre or balloon, you let all the air or gas out of it.
ANTONYMS: inflate, blow up
deforestation
NOUN the cutting down or the destruction of all the trees in an area
deformed
ADJECTIVE disfigured or abnormally shaped
defrost defrosts, defrosting, defrosted
VERB 1 If you defrost frozen food, you let it thaw out.
2 If you defrost a freezer or refrigerator, you remove the ice from it.
defuse defuses, defusing, defused
VERB 1 If someone defuses a bomb, they remove its fuse or detonator so that it cannot explode.
2 If you defuse a dangerous or tense situation, you make it less dangerous or tense.
defy defies, defying, defied
VERB If you defy a person or a law, you openly refuse to obey.
degree degrees
NOUN 1 a unit of measurement for temperatures, angles, and longitude and latitude, written as ° after a number • The temperature was 20 °C. • A right angle is a ninety-degree angle.
2 an amount of a feeling or quality • As captain you have a high degree of responsibility.
3 a university qualification gained after completing a course of study there