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2 VERB [usu passive] If a proposal or motion in a debate is defeated , more people vote against it than for it. □ [be V -ed] The proposal was defeated by just one vote.

3 VERB If a task or a problem defeats you, it is so difficult that you cannot do it or solve it. □ [V n] There were times when the challenges of writing such a huge novel almost defeated her.

4 VERB To defeat an action or plan means to cause it to fail. □ [V n] The navy played a limited but significant role in defeating the rebellion.

5 N‑VAR Defeat is the experience of being beaten in a battle, game, or contest, or of failing to achieve what you wanted to. □  The most important thing is not to admit defeat until you really have to. □ [+ for ] The vote is seen as a defeat for the anti-abortion lobby. SYNONYMS defeat VERB 1

beat:In yesterday's games, Switzerland beat the United States two–one.

conquer:Early in the eleventh century the whole of England was again conquered by the Vikings.

de|feat|ism /d I fiː t I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Defeatism is a way of thinking or talking which suggests that you expect to be unsuccessful. □  …the mood of economic defeatism.

de|feat|ist /d I fiː t I st/ (defeatists ) N‑COUNT A defeatist is someone who thinks or talks in a way that suggests that they expect to be unsuccessful. ● ADJ Defeatist is also an adjective. □  There is no point going out there with a defeatist attitude.

def|ecate /de fəke I t/ (defecates , defecating , defecated ) VERB When people and animals defecate , they get rid of waste matter from their body through their anus. [FORMAL ] ●  def|eca|tion /de fəke I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □  The drug's side-effects can include involuntary defecation.

de|fect (defects , defecting , defected ) The noun is pronounced /diː fekt/. The verb is pronounced /d I fe kt/. 1 N‑COUNT A defect is a fault or imperfection in a person or thing. □  He was born with a hearing defect. □  …a defect in the aircraft caused the crash.

2 VERB If you defect , you leave your country, political party, or other group, and join an opposing country, party, or group. □ [V + to/from ] 25 per cent of its listed client base defect to rival auditors. □ [V ] …a KGB officer who defected in 1963. ●  de|fec|tion /d I fe kʃ ^ə n/ (defections ) N‑VAR □  …the defection of at least sixteen Parliamentary deputies.

de|fec|tive /d I fe kt I v/ ADJ If something is defective , there is something wrong with it and it does not work properly. □  Retailers can return defective merchandise.

de|fec|tor /d I fe ktə ^r / (defectors ) N‑COUNT A defector is someone who leaves their country, political party, or other group, and joins an opposing country, party, or group.

de|fence ◆◆◇ /d I fe ns/ (defences ) The spelling defense is used in American English, and in meaning 8 is pronounced /diː fens/. 1 N‑UNCOUNT Defence is action that is taken to protect someone or something against attack. □  The land was flat, giving no scope for defence. □  By wielding a knife in defence you run the risk of having it used against you.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Defence is the organization of a country's armies and weapons, and their use to protect the country or its interests. □  Twenty eight percent of the federal budget is spent on defense. □  …the French defence minister.

3 N‑PLURAL The defences of a country or region are all its armed forces and weapons. □  …the need to maintain Britain's defences at a sufficiently high level.