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defuse

or de·fuze

[ dee-fyooz ]
/ diˈfyuz /
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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.
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Origin of defuse

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + fuse1

OTHER WORDS FROM defuse

de·fus·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH defuse

defuse , diffuse
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use defuse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for defuse

defuse

sometimes US defuze

/ (diːˈfjuːz) /

verb (tr)
to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)
to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)

undefined defuse

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
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