flaw
flaw — noun
1. a small problem in something such as an object, a plan, or someone's character t
a small problem in something such as an object, a plan, or someone's character that stops it from being perfect
A small flaw in the diamond made it less valuable than the others.
Samir spotted a flaw in the argument that everyone else had missed.
collocation: spot a flaw in [something]
The plan had one serious flaw: it did not account for unexpected delays.
Baraka's only character flaw is that she sometimes speaks before thinking things through.
Eli found a flaw in the bridge's support beams during the safety check.
- defect
suggests a more serious or structural problem; a defect often means something is unfit for its purpose
- imperfection
gentler and often about surface-level or cosmetic issues rather than functional faults
- weakness
broader — can refer to ability or vulnerability under pressure, not only fixed flaws
- perfection
the state of having no flaws at all
文法句型
flaw + in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'in' to specify where the imperfection lies (a flaw in the design, a flaw in her logic). Can be used with physical objects, abstract plans, or personal character — the core idea is always something that prevents full quality.
常見錯誤
flaw — verb
1. to make something less perfect by introducing a problem, mistake, or weakness
to make something less perfect by introducing a problem, mistake, or weakness
Hugo's excellent presentation was flawed by a single typing error.
passive: was flawed by [cause]
Jisoo's research results were flawed because the sample size was too small.
Ramón realised that one wrong number had flawed the entire budget calculation.
The artist's best work was flawed by a crack that ran across the canvas.
- perfect
to make something flawless or complete
文法句型
flaw + noun phrase
be flawed by + noun phrase
用法筆記
Most common in the passive form (is flawed / was flawed by). Active transitive use (X flawed Y) is less frequent and sounds more formal or literary.
2. to develop a crack, weak spot, or imperfection, especially as a result of age, u
to develop a crack, weak spot, or imperfection, especially as a result of age, use, or environmental conditions
The metal surface began to flaw after years of exposure to salt water.
Without regular oiling, the wooden floorboards will flaw and lose their smooth finish.
future: will flaw [under conditions]
The glass had flawed in several places where the heat had been uneven.
The paint on the old wooden fence began to flaw after three harsh winters.
- deteriorate
wider in meaning — covers all forms of becoming worse, not just developing cracks
- degrade
more technical; often used in engineering contexts for loss of quality over time
文法句型
noun phrase + flaw
用法筆記
Restricted mainly to technical or formal descriptions of materials aging. In everyday English, 'developed a flaw' or 'became defective' is far more common than using flaw as an intransitive verb.