defect

defect — 名詞

1. A shortcoming in a product, machine, design, or system that stops it from workin

1.名詞B1
釋義

瑕疵

產品或機器中的缺點

A shortcoming in a product, machine, design, or system that stops it from working as it should or makes it less good than it ought to be.

例句

The manufacturer recalled the phone due to a defect in the battery that could cause overheating.

製造商因為電池有瑕疵可能導致過熱，回收了這款手機。

defect in [part] — specifies the location of the flaw

Before selling the apartment, Ilan had to fix a structural defect in the foundation.

Ilan 在出售公寓之前，必須先修好地基的結構瑕疵。

同義詞
  • flaw

    more general; can be minor and does not always affect function (a flaw in a diamond)

  • fault

    often implies responsibility or blame; used in legal and engineering contexts (a design fault)

  • imperfection

    milder, more about appearance than function (a small imperfection in the wood)

反義詞
  • perfection

    the state of being entirely without defects

用法筆記

Commonly paired with prepositions 'in' (defect in the wiring) or 'of' (defect of design). Frequently used with adjectives indicating severity: major, minor, serious, critical.

常見錯誤

❌The product has a defect of quality.
✅The product has a quality defect.
💡'quality defect' is the natural noun+noun compound; 'defect of quality' sounds unnatural.
❌There is a defect on the screen.' (when describing a built-in flaw).
✅There is a defect in the screen.
💡'in' is used for an internal flaw; 'on' suggests a surface mark.

2. A medical condition, often present from birth, in which a specific organ or body

2.名詞B2
釋義

缺陷

身體器官的異常狀況

A medical condition, often present from birth, in which a specific organ or body structure does not develop or function in the normal healthy way.

例句

The baby was born with a heart defect that required surgery within the first year.

這個嬰兒出生時就有心臟缺陷，需要在一歲內接受手術。

born with a [body part] defect — congenital condition pattern

A routine eye exam revealed a minor defect in the lens of Ayana's left eye.

例行視力檢查發現 Ayana 左眼水晶體有輕微缺陷。

同義詞
  • abnormality

    broader term for anything outside the normal range; can be less severe than a defect

  • malformation

    specifically refers to a body part that is wrongly shaped; more technical

用法筆記

Often used in medical contexts with specific body parts: heart defect, spinal defect, vision defect, hearing defect. The phrase 'birth defect' is common and refers to conditions present at birth.

常見錯誤

❌He has a defect in walking.
✅He has a walking defect.' or 'He has a defect that affects his walking.
💡the noun-noun compound ('walking defect') or a relative clause is more natural than 'defect in + gerund.'

defect — 動詞