From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdefectde‧fect1 /dɪˈfekt, ˈdiːfekt/ ●●○ noun [countable] FAULT/something WRONGa fault or a lack of something that means that something or someone is not perfect All the cars are tested for defects before they leave the factory. a genetic defect► see thesaurus at faultCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + defect a serious defectThe movie has a few serious defects.a major defect (=very serious)They have found a major defect in the program.a slight/minor defectThere are one or two minor defects on the car’s paintwork.a physical defectDoctors examined the baby and could find no physical defects.a structural defectOlder buildings are bound to have some structural defects.a genetic/inherited defect (=one that is passed to you in your genes)The condition is caused by a genetic defect.a birth defect (=one that you are born with)About 11% of children have birth defects.a heart defectLaura was born with a rare heart defect.a speech defect (=an incorrect way of saying certain sounds)He had a speech defect which made it quite difficult to understand him.a character defect (=a fault in your character)Laziness was just one of his character defects.verbshave a defectThe old system had some serious defects.correct a defectShe had surgery to correct a defect in her right eye.
Examples from the Corpus
defect• Investigators found a defect in the design of the ship.• Little analysis was apparent in many of the early Programmes - a defect that was never entirely overcome.• A defect in the braking system caused several accidents before the car was recalled.• Children were considered ineligible to be controls if they were a twin, were adopted, or had a serious congenital defect.• By emphasizing every defect in her body, she offers a challenge to polite culture.• Because methodology is fully exposed, genuine defects may be revealed, or more frustratingly, discussion sidetracked away from implications.• His personal defects are a somewhat hostile reserve, conceit, and a narrow outlook...• People are born with these defects but often show no outward signs of problems.• These defects are readily apparent in this case.• Are you puzzled by the fact that Congress does little to remedy those defects in the bureaucracy against which it constantly rails?defectdefect2 /dɪˈfekt/ verb [intransitive] PGCto leave your own country or group in order to go to or join an opposing onedefect to/from a Russian actor who defected to the West —defector noun [countable] —defection /dɪˈfekʃən/ noun [countable, uncountable]→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
defect• Temptation to defect, 5 points.• At least one count in this region, Odulf, had already defected.• They were paying him for defecting, for answering questions about his military service.• Home Secretary Jack Straw's record would be reason enough to defect from Labour.• Two Conservatives have recently defected from the party, whose majority has dwindled to five in Parliament.• Almost every Republican woman I know also defected in both elections.• Who had persuaded the other to defect, to betray his fundamental principles in the name of personal loyalty?• If I am to live, I must defect with my aircraft.defect to/from• Not until the years of fast industrialization and construction were these defects to be remedied.• Companies learn about defects from consumer complaints, liability lawsuits and their own testing.• Our employees defected to Drexel at an alarming rate.• He defects to the Soviet Union.• The Confederates considered the large numbers of blacks who defected to the Union to fight against their former masters as criminals.From Longman Business Dictionarydefectde‧fect1 /dɪˈfekt, ˈdiːfekt/ noun [countable] MANUFACTURINGa fault in something that means it is not perfectThey recalled the vehicles because of brake defects.an effort to improve customer satisfaction and reduce product defectsa possible safety defect with the plane’s autopilot → latent defect → zero defectsdefectde‧fect2 /dɪˈfekt/ verb [intransitive] journalism1if the buyer of one product defects to another product, they stop buying the first one and start buying the second oneThey tried to retain customers who might defect to a credit card with a lower interest rate.2if an employee working for a particular company defects, they leave it and start working for anotherAlthough several senior employees have defected, it’s not true that there’s any kind of mass walkout. —defector noun [countable]When a group of his partners announced they were leaving, the firm prevented the defectors from entering their offices. —defection noun [countable, uncountable]The big investment bank has been hit by client defections.→ See Verb tableOrigin defect1 (1400-1500) Old French Latin defectus “lack”, from defectus, past participle of deficere “to go away from, fail, lack” defect2 (1500-1600) Latin defectus, past participle; → DEFECT1 