The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
DEFECT
blemish, defect, mar
(noun) a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person’s body); “a facial blemish”
defect, shortcoming
(noun) a failing or deficiency; “that interpretation is an unfortunate defect of our lack of information”
defect
(noun) an imperfection in a bodily system; “visual defects”; “this device permits detection of defects in the lungs”
defect, fault, flaw
(noun) an imperfection in an object or machine; “a flaw caused the crystal to shatter”; “if there are any defects you should send it back to the manufacturer”
defect, desert
(verb) desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army; “If soldiers deserted Hitler’s army, they were shot”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
defect (plural defects)
A fault or malfunction.
The quantity or amount by which anything falls short.
(math) A part by which a figure or quantity is wanting or deficient.
Usage notes
• Adjectives often used with "defect": major, minor, serious, cosmetic, functional, critical, fatal, basic, fundamental, main, primary, principal, radical, inherent
Synonyms
• See also defect
Verb
defect (third-person singular simple present defects, present participle defecting, simple past and past participle defected)
(intransitive) To abandon or turn against; to cease or change one's loyalty, especially from a military organisation or political party.
(military) To desert one's army, to flee from combat.
(military) To join the enemy army.
(law) To flee one's country and seek asylum.
Source: Wiktionary
De*fect", n. Etym: [L. defectus, fr. deficere, defectum, to desert, fail, be wanting; de- + facere to make, do. See Fact, Feat, and cf. Deficit.]
1. Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or perfection; deficiency; -- opposed to superfluity. Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied. Davies.
2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish; as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment. Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know, Make use of every friend -- any every foe. Pope. Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects. Macaulay.
Syn.
– Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.
De*fect", v. i.
Definition: To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.
De*fect", v. t.
Definition: To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
28 May 2025
AIR
(noun) a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; “an air of mystery”; “the house had a neglected air”; “an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate’s headquarters”; “the place had an aura of romance”
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