a shortcoming, fault, or imperfection

a defect in an argument; a defect in a machine.

lack or want, esp. of something essential to perfection or completeness; deficiency

a defect in hearing.

Also called crystal defect , lattice defect. Crystallography . a discontinuity in the lattice of a crystal caused by missing or extra atoms or ions, or by dislocations.

to desert a cause, country, etc., esp. in order to adopt another (often fol. by from or to )

He defected from the U.S.S.R to the West.

noun

advantage , improvement , perfection , strength

verb

come in , join

noun

birthmark , blot , blotch , break , bug , catch , check , crack , deficiency , deformity , discoloration , drawback , error , failing , fault , flaw , foible , frailty , gap , glitch , gremlin , hole , infirmity , injury , irregularity , kink , knot , lack , mark , marring , mistake , patch , rift , rough spot , scar , scarcity , scratch , seam , second , shortage , shortcoming , sin , speck , spot , stain , taint , unsoundness , vice , want , weakness , weak point , deficit , inadequacy , insufficiency , paucity , poverty , scantiness , scantness , scarceness , shortfall , underage , blemish , imperfection , defectibility , defectiveness , handicap , impediment , lacuna , malfunction

verb

abandon , abscond , apostatize , back out , break faith * , change sides , depart , desert , fall away from , forsake , go , go back on , go over , go over the fence , lapse , leave , pull out , quit , rat * , rebel , reject , renege , renounce , revolt , run out , schism , sell out * , spurn , take a walk , tergiversate , tergiverse , turn , turn coat , walk out on , withdraw , renegade , birthmark , blemish , blotch , break , damage , deficiency , deformity , drawback , error , fault , flaw , glitch , imperfection , injury , shortcoming , vice , want