defeat
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /dɪˈfiːt/
rhymes: -iːt
Forms: form: defeats
form: defeating
form: defeated
form: defeated
form: no-table-tags
form: glossary
form: defeat
form: defeat
form: defeated
form: defeat
form: defeatest
form: defeated
form: defeatedst
form: defeats
form: defeateth
form: defeated
form: defeat
form: defeated
form: defeat
form: defeated
form: defeat
form: -
form: defeating
form: defeated
Etymology: From Middle English defeten, from Middle English defet (“disfigured”, past participle) and defet (“defect”, noun), see Etymology 2 below.
Senses: examples: text: Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.
text: The Japanese defeated the Ming general Tsu Chʻeng-hsün 祖承訓 at Pʻing jang 平壤 in 1592, the first year of Bunroku 文祿 of Japan, and the fighting continued for some years; but at Hideyoshi's death the Japanese troops left Korea.
ref: 1917, Samuel Couling, “Japanese Relations with China”, in The Encyclopaedia Sinica, Literature House, Ltd., published 1964, →OCLC, page 255, column 2:
text: My personal success or failure is insignificant; the rise or fall of the nation is my responsibility and must not be shirked. Upon introspection, I feel I am firmer than ever in confidence that the Communists will be defeated. These are feelings which will comfort Father's soul in Heaven.
ref: 1980 August 1 [1980 May 1], Ching-kuo Chiang, “President Chiang Ching-kuo continues his period of mourning and finds that visits to countryside and people give him renewed strength”, in Taiwan Today, archived from the original on 17 May 2020:
glosses: To overcome in battle or contest.
examples: text: He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes.
ref: 1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
text: In one instance he defeated his own purpose.
ref: 1879, Adolphus Ward, “Chaucer”, in English Men of Letters:
glosses: To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.
examples: text: The escheators […] defeated the right heir of his succession.
ref: 1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:
glosses: To nullify
examples: text: The last active L.Y.R. 0-6-0ST (apart from works shunters), No. 51408, has been moved from Bolton to Agecroft for use in New Bailey Yard, Salford, where a sharp 1 in 27 curve is said to have defeated all attempts so far to employ diesel shunters; an ex-L.Y.R. 0-4-0ST also works here.
ref: 1962 January, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region: Central Lines”, in Modern Railways, page 60:
glosses: To prevent (something) from being achieved.
Synonyms: word: vanquish
word: overcome
word: beat
word: bring down
word: chew up
word: eat someone for breakfast
word: eat someone's lunch
word: flog
word: humble
word: kick ass
word: murdelize
word: outfox
word: outguess
word: outrun
word: outsmart
word: outwit
word: overpower
word: overwin
word: own
word: pulverise
word: pwn
word: spank
word: steal the show
word: subdue
word: subvert
word: surmount
word: thrash
word: trounce
Hyponyms: english: defeat and annex
translation: defeat and annex
word: conquer
word: rout
word: crush
english: decisive
translation: decisive
word: cream
word: shutout
topics: sports
hobbies
lifestyle
english: to defeat without permitting any opposing score
translation: to defeat without permitting any opposing score
word: zilch
word: discomfit
word: get over
word: get past
word: get through
word: overrun
word: overthrow
word: win over
Derived terms: defeatable
defeatingly
defeat the purpose
redefeat
self-defeating
undefeatability
undefeatable
Related terms: defeasance
defeasible
defeater
defeatism
defeatist
defeature