FLAW
flaw
(noun) an imperfection in a plan or theory or legal document that causes it to fail or that reduces its effectiveness
flaw
(noun) defect or weakness in a person’s character; “he had his flaws, but he was great nonetheless”
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”
flaw, blemish
(verb) add a flaw or blemish to; make imperfect or defective
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
flaw (plural flaws)
(obsolete) A flake, fragment, or shiver.
(obsolete) A thin cake, as of ice.
A crack or breach, a gap or fissure; a defect of continuity or cohesion.
A defect, fault, or imperfection, especially one that is hidden.
(in particular) An inclusion, stain, or other defect of a diamond or other gemstone.
(legal) A defect or error in a contract or other document which may make the document invalid or ineffective.
Synonyms
• See also defect
Verb
flaw (third-person singular simple present flaws, present participle flawing, simple past and past participle flawed)
(transitive) To add a flaw to, to make imperfect or defective.
(intransitive) To become imperfect or defective; to crack or break.
Etymology 2
Noun
flaw (plural flaws)
A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.
A storm of short duration.
A sudden burst of noise and disorder
Synonyms: tumult, uproar, quarrel
Anagrams
• AFLW, WAFL
Source: Wiktionary
Flaw, n. Etym: [OE. flai, flaw flake; cf. Sw. flaga flaw, crack,
breach, flake, D. vlaag gust of wind, Norw. flage, flaag, and E. flag
a flat stone.]
1. A crack or breach; a gap or fissure; a defect of continuity or
cohesion; as, a flaw in a knife or a vase.
This heart Shall break into a hundered thousand flaws. Shak.
2. A defect; a fault; as, a flaw in reputation; a flaw in a will, in
a deed, or in a statute.
Has not this also its flaws and its dark side South.
3. A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a quarrel.
[Obs.]
And deluges of armies from the town Came pouring in; I heard the
mighty flaw. Dryden.
4. A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.
Snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw. Milton.
Like flaws in summer laying lusty corn. Tennyson.
Syn.
– Blemish; fault; imoerfection; spot; speck.
Flaw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flawing.]
1. To crack; to make flaws in.
The brazen caldrons with the frosts are flawed. Dryden.
2. To break; to violate; to make of no effect. [Obs.]
France hath flawed the league. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition