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definitions

flaw

1
[flaw]
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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.

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RELATED WORDS

blemish, weakness, failing, defect, foible, glitch, fault, bug, pitfall, gremlin, speck, vice, wart, spot, catch, stain, disfigurement, typo, catch-22

Nearby words

  1. flavory,
  2. flavour,
  3. flavour enhancer,
  4. flavourful,
  5. flavouring,
  6. flawed,
  7. flawless,
  8. flawlessly,
  9. flax,
  10. flax kit

Origin of flaw

1
1275–1325; Middle English flaw(e), flage, perhaps < Old Norse flaga sliver, flake
Related formsflaw·less, adjective

Synonym study

1. See defect.

flaw

2
[flaw]

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

2
First recorded in 1475–85, flaw is from the Old Norse word flaga attack, squall
Related formsflaw·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for flaw

British Dictionary definitions for flaw

flaw

1

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
Derived Formsflawless, adjectiveflawlessly, adverbflawlessness, noun

Word Origin for flaw

C14: probably from Old Norse flaga stone slab; related to Swedish flaga chip, flake, flaw

noun

  1. a sudden short gust of wind; squall
  2. a spell of bad, esp windy, weather
obsolete an outburst of strong feeling
Derived Formsflawy, adjective

Word Origin for flaw

C16: of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian flaga squall, gust, Middle Dutch vlāghe
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 flaw
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper