flaw
1[ flaw ]
/ flɔ /
noun
a feature that mars the perfection of something; defect; fault: beauty without flaw; the flaws in our plan.
a defect impairing legal soundness or validity.
a crack, break, breach, or rent.
verb (used with object)
to produce a flaw in.
verb (used without object)
to contract a flaw; become cracked or defective.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
blemish, weakness, failing, defect, foible, glitch, fault, bug, pitfall, gremlin, speck, vice, wart, spot, catch, stain, disfigurement, typo, catch-22
Nearby words
- flavory,
- flavour,
- flavour enhancer,
- flavourful,
- flavouring,
- flawed,
- flawless,
- flawlessly,
- flax,
- flax kit
Origin of flaw
11275–1325; Middle English flaw(e), flage, perhaps < Old Norse flaga sliver, flake
SYNONYMS FOR flaw
Synonym study
1. See defect.
flaw
2[ flaw ]
/ flɔ /
noun
Also called windflaw. a sudden, usually brief windstorm or gust of wind.
a short spell of rough weather.
Obsolete. a burst of feeling, fury, etc.
Origin of flaw
2First recorded in 1475–85, flaw is from the Old Norse word flaga attack, squall
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for flaw
flaw
1/ (flɔː) /
noun
an imperfection, defect, or blemish
a crack, breach, or rift
law an invalidating fault or defect in a document or proceeding
verb
to make or become blemished, defective, or imperfect
Word Origin for flaw
C14: probably from Old Norse flaga stone slab; related to Swedish flaga chip, flake, flaw
noun
- a sudden short gust of wind; squall
- a spell of bad, esp windy, weather
obsolete an outburst of strong feeling
Word Origin for flaw
C16: of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian flaga squall, gust, Middle Dutch vlāghe
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