defuse

or de·fuze

[dee-fyooz]

verb (used with object), de·fused, de·fus·ing.

to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).

to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing: to defuse a potentially ugly situation.

verb (used without object), de·fused, de·fus·ing.

to grow less dangerous; weaken.

Origin of defuse

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + fuse¹

Related formsde·fus·er, noun

Can be confuseddefuse diffuse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for defuser

defuse

sometimes US defuze

verb (tr)

to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)

to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)

confusable

Avoid confusion with diffuse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for defuser

defuse

1943, from de- + fuse. Related: Defused; defusing.