English terms dictionary. 2015.
defuse — de*fuse (d[ e]*f[=u]z ), v. t. [Cf. {Diffuse}.] 1. To disorder; to make shapeless. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To remove the fuse from; to deactivate (a bomb or other explosive device) or make it ineffective. Syn: deactivate. [WordNet 1.5… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
defuse — defuse, diffuse It is surprising how often diffuse (correctly = to disperse) is used for defuse in its figurative meaning ‘to remove tension or potential danger from (a crisis, etc.)’. Examples of this wrong use are: • An early cut in base rates … Modern English usage
defuse — 1943, from DE (Cf. de ) + FUSE (Cf. fuse). Related: Defused; defusing … Etymology dictionary
defuse — [v] disarm; smooth over alleviate, cripple, deactivate, demilitarize, diminish, disable, lessen, moderate, mollify, pacify, pad, restrain, soften, soothe, subdue, weaken; concepts 7,22,142,211,320 … New thesaurus
defuse — [dē fyo͞oz′, difyo͞oz′] vt. defused, defusing 1. to remove the fuse or fuze from (a bomb or other explosive device) 2. to render harmless 3. to make less tense, as by diplomacy … English World dictionary
defuse — de|fuse [ˌdi:ˈfju:z] v [T] 1.) to improve a difficult or dangerous situation, for example by making people less angry or by dealing with the causes of a problem defuse a situation/crisis/row etc ▪ Beth s quiet voice helped to defuse the situation … Dictionary of contemporary English
defuse — verb (T) 1 to improve a difficult or dangerous situation, for example by making people less angry or by dealing with the causes of a problem: We believe that greater economic stability might defuse the current crisis. | defuse tension/anger/fears … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
defuse — UK [diːˈfjuːz] / US [dɪˈfjuz] verb [transitive] Word forms defuse : present tense I/you/we/they defuse he/she/it defuses present participle defusing past tense defused past participle defused 1) to make a situation more relaxed by making people… … English dictionary
defuse — [[t]di͟ːfju͟ːz[/t]] defuses, defusing, defused 1) VERB If you defuse a dangerous or tense situation, you calm it. [V n] Police administrators credited the organization with helping defuse potentially violent situations... [V n] Officials will… … English dictionary
defuse — transitive verb Date: 1943 1. to remove the fuse from (as a mine or bomb) 2. to make less harmful, potent, or tense < defuse the crisis > … New Collegiate Dictionary
