deform

¹

[ dih-fawrm ]

verb (used with object)

1. to mar the natural form or shape of; put out of shape; disfigure:

   In cases where the drug was taken during pregnancy, its effects deformed the infants.

   Synonyms: misshape

2. to make ugly, ungraceful, or displeasing; mar the beauty of; spoil:

   The trees had been completely deformed by the force of the wind.

   Synonyms: ruin

3. to change the form of; transform.
4. Geology, Mechanics. to subject to deformation:

   The metal was deformed under stress.

verb (used without object)

1. to undergo deformation.

deform

²

[ dih-fawrm ]

adjective

, Archaic.

1. deformed; ugly.

deform

/ dɪˈfɔːm /

verb

1. to make or become misshapen or distorted
2. tr to mar the beauty of; disfigure
3. tr to subject or be subjected to a stress that causes a change of dimensions

Derived Forms

• deˌformaˈbility, noun
• deˈformable, adjective
• deˈformer, noun

Other Words From

• de·forma·ble adjective
• de·forma·bili·ty noun
• de·forma·tive adjective
• de·former noun
• unde·forma·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deform¹

1350–1400; Middle English deformen, from Latin dēfōrmāre, equivalent to dē- de- + fōrmāre “to shape, form” ( form )

Origin of deform²

1350–1400; Middle English defo ( u ) rme < Latin dēformis, equivalent to dē- de- + -formis -form

Word History and Origins

Origin of deform¹

C15: from Latin dēformāre, from de- + forma shape, beauty

Synonym Study

See mar.

Example Sentences

The inner workings of the digital scale are made of delicate materials that may warp and deform if not stored correctly.

From Popular-Science

Aleksandr Kozlov, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources, told a minister’s council in May that more than 40% of the northern region’s buildings are starting to deform.

From Time

“Anytime you’re interacting with an object, your skin deforms,” or squishes a bit, Bensmaia explains.

From Science News

“Anytime you’re interacting with an object, your skin deforms,” or squishes a bit.

From Science News

In its earliest eras, it built volcanoes so immense that their formation deformed its surface.

From Quanta Magazine

Their genius travels over as many lines as there are lineaments in the figure, and the least false step would deform it.

From Project Gutenberg

With all this they have a Pair of Stays which reaches down to394 their Waist, and renders them compleatly deform'd.

From Project Gutenberg

Were she deform'd,The virtues of her mind would force a stoic To sue to be her servant.

From Project Gutenberg

Only frankness can serve me here or make plain all that was secretly at work to deform the natural development of our lives.

From Project Gutenberg

Our inheritance in many ways is precious and wonderful, but our human response can deform it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• contort
• impair
• maim
• mangle
• mutilate
• skew