2 N‑UNCOUNT Deformity is the condition of having a deformity. □ The bones begin to grind against each other, leading to pain and deformity.
de|fraud /d I frɔː d/ (defrauds , defrauding , defrauded ) VERB If someone defrauds you, they take something away from you or stop you from getting what belongs to you by means of tricks and lies. □ [V n] He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the government. □ [V n + of/out of ] …allegations that he defrauded taxpayers of thousands of dollars.
de|fray /d I fre I / (defrays , defraying , defrayed ) VERB If you defray someone's costs or expenses, you give them money which represents the amount that they have spent, for example while they have been doing something for you or acting on your behalf. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The government has committed billions toward defraying the costs of the war.
de|frock /diːfrɒ k/ (defrocked ) V-PASSIVE If a priest is defrocked , he is forced to stop being a priest because of bad behaviour. □ [be V -ed] Mellors was preaching heresy and had to be immediately defrocked. □ [V -ed] …a defrocked priest.
de|frost /diː frɒ st, [AM ] -frɔː st/ (defrosts , defrosting , defrosted )
1 VERB When you defrost frozen food or when it defrosts , you allow or cause it to become unfrozen so that you can eat it or cook it. □ [V n] She has a microwave, but uses it mainly for defrosting bread. □ [V ] Once the turkey has defrosted, remove the giblets.
2 VERB When you defrost a fridge or freezer, you switch it off or press a special switch so that the ice inside it can melt. You can also say that a fridge or freezer is defrosting . □ [V n] Defrost the fridge regularly so that it works at maximum efficiency. [Also V ]
deft /de ft/ (defter , deftest ) ADJ A deft action is skilful and often quick. [WRITTEN ] □ With a deft flick of his foot, Mr Worth tripped one of the raiders up. ● deft|ly ADV □ One of the waiting servants deftly caught him as he fell. ● deft|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …Dr Holly's surgical deftness and experience.
de|funct /d I fʌ ŋkt/ ADJ If something is defunct , it no longer exists or has stopped functioning or operating. □ …the leader of the now defunct Social Democratic Party.
de|fuse /diː fjuː z/ (defuses , defusing , defused )
1 VERB If you defuse a dangerous or tense situation, you calm it. □ [V n] The organization helped defuse potentially violent situations.
2 VERB If someone defuses a bomb, they remove the fuse so that it cannot explode. □ [V n] Police have defused a bomb found in a building in London.
defy /d I fa I / (defies , defying , defied )
1 VERB If you defy someone or something that is trying to make you behave in a particular way, you refuse to obey them and behave in that way. □ [V n] This was the first (and last) time that I dared to defy my mother.
2 VERB If you defy someone to do something, you challenge them to do it when you think that they will be unable to do it or too frightened to do it. □ [V n to-inf] I defy you to read this book and not feel motivated to change.
3 VERB [no passive, no cont] If something defies description or understanding, it is so strange, extreme, or surprising that it is almost impossible to understand or explain. □ [V n] It's a devastating and barbaric act that defies all comprehension.
de|gen|era|cy /d I dʒe nərəsi/ N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to the behaviour of a group of people as degeneracy , you mean that you think it is shocking, immoral, or disgusting. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the moral degeneracy of society.
de|gen|er|ate (degenerates , degenerating , degenerated ) The verb is pronounced /d I dʒe nəre I t/. The adjective and noun are pronounced /d I dʒe nərət/. 1 VERB If you say that someone or something degenerates , you mean that they become worse in some way, for example weaker, lower in quality, or more dangerous. □ [V ] Inactivity can make your joints stiff, and the bones may begin to degenerate. □ [V + into ] …a very serious humanitarian crisis which could degenerate into a catastrophe. ● de|gen|era|tion /d I dʒe nəre I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …various forms of physical and mental degeneration.
2 ADJ If you describe a person or their behaviour as degenerate , you disapprove of them because you think they have low standards of behaviour or morality. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a group of degenerate computer hackers.
3 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a degenerate , you disapprove of them because you think they have low standards of behaviour or morality. [DISAPPROVAL ]
de|gen|era|tive /d I dʒe nərət I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A degenerative disease or condition is one that gets worse as time progresses. □ …degenerative diseases of the brain, like Alzheimer's.
deg|ra|da|tion /de grəde I ʃ ə n/ (degradations )
1 N‑VAR You use degradation to refer to a situation, condition, or experience which you consider shameful and disgusting, especially one which involves poverty or immorality. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ They were sickened by the scenes of misery and degradation they found.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Degradation is the process of something becoming worse or weaker, or being made worse or weaker. □ I feel this signals the degradation of American culture.
3 N‑UNCOUNT The degradation of land or of the environment is the process of its becoming damaged and poorer, for example because of the effects of pollution, industry, and modern agricultural methods. [TECHNICAL ]
de|grade /d I gre I d/ (degrades , degrading , degraded )
1 VERB Something that degrades someone causes people to have less respect for them. □ [V n] …the notion that pornography degrades women. □ [V pron-refl] When I asked him if he had ever taken bribes he said he wouldn't degrade himself like that. ● de|grad|ing ADJ □ Mr Porter was subjected to a degrading strip-search.