flaw

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flaw¹

(flô)

1. An imperfection, often concealed, that impairs soundness: a flaw in the crystal that caused it to shatter. See Synonyms at blemish.

2. A defect or shortcoming in something intangible: The two leaders share the flaw of arrogance.

tr.v. flawed, flaw·ing, flaws

To cause a flaw in; make defective: an argument that was flawed by specious reasoning.

[Middle English flaue, splinter, perhaps from Old Norse flaga, slab of stone; see plāk- in Indo-European roots.]

flaw²

(flô)

A quick, intense burst, especially of wind, rain, or snow.

[Probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish flaga, gust of wind.]

flaw′y adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

flaw

(flɔː)

1. an imperfection, defect, or blemish

2. a crack, breach, or rift

3. (Law) law an invalidating fault or defect in a document or proceeding

to make or become blemished, defective, or imperfect

[C14: probably from Old Norse flaga stone slab; related to Swedish flaga chip, flake, flaw]

ˈflawless adj

ˈflawlessly adv

ˈflawlessness n

flaw

(flɔː)

1. (Physical Geography)

a. a sudden short gust of wind; squall

b. a spell of bad, esp windy, weather

2. obsolete an outburst of strong feeling

[C16: of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian flaga squall, gust, Middle Dutch vlāghe]

ˈflawy adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

flaw¹

(flɔ)

n.

1. a feature that mars the perfection of something; defect.

2. a defect impairing legal soundness or validity.

3. a crack or breach.

v.t.

4. to produce a flaw in.

v.i.

5. to become defective.

[1275–1325; Middle English flaw(e), flage]

flaw′less, adj.

flaw′less•ly, adv.

flaw′less•ness, n.

syn: See defect.

flaw²

(flɔ)

n.

1. a brief windstorm or gust of wind.

2. Obs. a burst of feeling.

[1475–85; < Old Norse flaga attack, squall]

flaw′y, adj.

Flaw

turfs collectively, 1811.

flaw

Past participle: flawed
Gerund: flawing

Imperative
flaw
flaw

Present
I flaw
you flaw
he/she/it flaws
we flaw
you flaw
they flaw

Preterite
I flawed
you flawed
he/she/it flawed
we flawed
you flawed
they flawed

Present Continuous
I am flawing
you are flawing
he/she/it is flawing
we are flawing
you are flawing
they are flawing

Present Perfect
I have flawed
you have flawed
he/she/it has flawed
we have flawed
you have flawed
they have flawed

Past Continuous
I was flawing
you were flawing
he/she/it was flawing
we were flawing
you were flawing
they were flawing

Past Perfect
I had flawed
you had flawed
he/she/it had flawed
we had flawed
you had flawed
they had flawed

Future
I will flaw
you will flaw
he/she/it will flaw
we will flaw
you will flaw
they will flaw

Future Perfect
I will have flawed
you will have flawed
he/she/it will have flawed
we will have flawed
you will have flawed
they will have flawed

Future Continuous
I will be flawing
you will be flawing
he/she/it will be flawing
we will be flawing
you will be flawing
they will be flawing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been flawing
you have been flawing
he/she/it has been flawing
we have been flawing
you have been flawing
they have been flawing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been flawing
you will have been flawing
he/she/it will have been flawing
we will have been flawing
you will have been flawing
they will have been flawing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been flawing
you had been flawing
he/she/it had been flawing
we had been flawing
you had been flawing
they had been flawing

Conditional
I would flaw
you would flaw
he/she/it would flaw
we would flaw
you would flaw
they would flaw

Past Conditional
I would have flawed
you would have flawed
he/she/it would have flawed
we would have flawed
you would have flawed
they would have flawed

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	flaw - 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" fault, defect imperfection, imperfectness - the state or an instance of being imperfect blister - a flaw on a surface resulting when an applied substance does not adhere (as an air bubble in a coat of paint) glitch, bug - a fault or defect in a computer program, system, or machine hole - a fault; "he shot holes in my argument"
	2.	flaw - defect or weakness in a person's character; "he had his flaws, but he was great nonetheless" failing, weakness - a flaw or weak point; "he was quick to point out his wife's failings" hamartia, tragic flaw - the character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall
	3.	flaw - an imperfection in a plan or theory or legal document that causes it to fail or that reduces its effectiveness imperfection, imperfectness - the state or an instance of being imperfect
Verb	1.	flaw - add a flaw or blemish to; make imperfect or defective blemish damage - inflict damage upon; "The snow damaged the roof"; "She damaged the car when she hit the tree"

flaw

noun

1. error, mistake, fault, blunder, inaccuracy, howler (informal), solecism Almost all these studies have serious flaws.

2. weakness, failing, defect, weak spot, spot, fault, scar, blemish, imperfection, speck, disfigurement, chink in your armour The only flaw in his character is a short temper.

3. crack, break, split, breach, tear, rent, fracture, rift, cleft, crevice, fissure, scission a flaw in the rock wide enough for a foot

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

flaw

noun

Something that mars the appearance or causes inadequacy or failure:

blemish, bug, defect, fault, imperfection, shortcoming.

verb

To spoil the soundness or perfection of:

blemish, damage, detract from, disserve, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, prejudice, tarnish, vitiate.

Translations

عَيْبنَقْص، خَلَل، عَيْب

chybavada

fejl

Fehler Mangel Blase

ψεγάδι

defecto error

vika

défaut dégât faille insuffisance manque

nedostatak

galli

difetto lancio pecca vizio danneggiare

きず

결점

įlūžimassu trūkumu

bojājumsdefektstrūkums

felaktighet

ข้อบกพร่อง

kusur defo

khiếm khuyết

瑕疵缺点

flaw

[flɔː] N (= defect) (in character, system) → defecto m, fallo m; (in material, beauty, diamond) → desperfecto m, tara f; (in reasoning) → error m, fallo m; (= crack) → grieta f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

flaw

[ˈflɔː] n → défaut m

flaw

n (lit) → Fehler m; (fig also) → Mangel m; (in sb’s character also) → Mangel m, → Defekt m; (Jur, in contract etc) → (Form)fehler m

vt her argument was flawed by lack of evidence → ihr Argument wurde durch Mangel an Beweisen entkräftet; her beauty was not flawed by the slightest imperfection → ihre Schönheit wurde durch keinen Mangel getrübt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

flaw

[flɔː] n (gen) → difetto; (crack, in china) → incrinatura

flaw

(floː) noun

a fault; something which makes something not perfect. a flaw in the material.

flawed adjective

having a flaw. This china is flawed.

ˈflawless adjective

perfect. her flawless beauty.

flaw

→ عَيْب chyba fejl Mangel ψεγάδι defecto, error vika faille nedostatak pecca きず 결점 gebrek lyte skaza falha изъян felaktighet ข้อบกพร่อง kusur khiếm khuyết 缺点

flaw

n. falta, defecto, falla.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

As the service proceeded, the clergyman drew such pictures of the graces, the winning ways, and the rare promise of the lost lads that every soul there, thinking he recognized these pictures, felt a pang in remembering that he had persistently blinded himself to them always before, and had as persistently seen only faults and flaws in the poor boys.

View in context

But yet certain though it be, it hath flaws; for that the scriveners and brokers do value unsound men, to serve their own turn.

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He speaks of "help for the sight far above spectacles and glasses," also "glasses and means to see small and minute bodies perfectly and distinctly, as the shapes and colours of small flies and worms, grains and flaws in gems, which cannot otherwise be seen." To-day we have the microscope.

View in context

It was a great idea, but I see now there were one or two flaws in it.'

View in context

The Witnesses proved, without error or flaw, That the sty was deserted when found: And the Judge kept explaining the state of the law In a soft under-current of sound.

View in context

By dint of an ingenious counsel, and a legal flaw, he escaped; but only to undergo a worse punishment; for, some years afterwards, his house was broken open in the night by robbers, tempted by the rumours of his great wealth, and he was found murdered in his bed.

View in context

He was deeply vexed, not only for the harm he had done Helen, but for the flaw he had discovered in his own equipment.

View in context

It was only to see if there was - a flaw in a jewel.

View in context

If you do not now point out a flaw in my definition, you are disqualified later on from advancing metaphysical arguments.

View in context

Oolanga, having tried standing tiptoe on the highest point near, and holding the lantern as high as he could, threw the light round the edges of the door to see if he could find anywhere a hole or a flaw in the metal through which he could obtain a glimpse.

View in context

There might still remain in her mind a changed association with him which made an irremediable difference--a lasting flaw. With active fancy he wrought himself into a state of doubt little more easy than that of the man who has escaped from wreck by night and stands on unknown ground in the darkness.

View in context

And when he meets with that kind creature (they are as plenty as fish in the sea), never trouble your head about it if there's a flaw in her character.

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