deform

¹ American  

[dih-fawrm] / dɪˈfɔrm /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to undergo deformation.

deform ² American  

[dih-fawrm] / dɪˈfɔrm /

adjective

Archaic.

1. deformed; ugly.

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deform British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See mar.

Other Word Forms

• deformability noun
• deformable adjective
• deformative adjective
• deformer noun
• undeformable adjective

Etymology

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

Related Words

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