defuse
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defuse
to remove the fuse from; to make less dangerous or tense: His apology defused a potentially ugly situation.
Not to be confused with:
diffuse – to pour out and spread; to scatter widely or thinly; disseminate: diffuse the seeds
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
de·fuse
(dē-fyo͞oz′)tr.v. de·fused, de·fus·ing, de·fus·es
1. To remove the fuse from (an explosive device).
2. To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile: a diplomatic move that defused the international crisis.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
defuse
(diːˈfjuːz) ordefuze
vb (tr)
1. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)
2. to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)
Usage: Avoid confusion with diffuse
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•fuse
(diˈfyuz)v.t. -fused, -fus•ing
1. to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).
2. to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing: to defuse a tense situation.
[1940–45]
de•fus′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
defuse
Past participle: defused
Gerund: defusing
Imperative |
---|
defuse |
defuse |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Verb | 1. | defuse - remove the triggering device from remove, take away, withdraw, take - remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract; "remove a threat"; "remove a wrapper"; "Remove the dirty dishes from the table"; "take the gun from your pocket"; "This machine withdraws heat from the environment" fuse - equip with a fuse; provide with a fuse |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
defuse
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
يَنْزَع الفَتيل، يُبْطِل مَفْعوليُهَدِّئ، يُلَطِّف
uklidnitzmírnitzneškodnit
afdramatisereafvæbnedesarmere
hatástalanít
gera sprengju óvirkakoma í veg fyrir, hindra
išimti detonatorių
mazināt spriedzi/saspīlējumunoņemt detonatoru
etkisiz hale getirmekyatıştırmak
defuse
[diːˈfjuːz] VT [+ bomb] → desactivar (fig) [+ tension] → calmar, apaciguar; [+ situation] → reducir la tensión deCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
defuse
vt (lit, fig) → entschärfen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
defuse
[diːˈfjuːz] vt (bomb) → disinnescareto defuse the situation → fare in modo che la situazione non degeneri
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
defuse
(diːˈfjuːz) verb1. to remove the fuse from (a bomb etc).
2. to make harmless or less dangerous. He succeeded in defusing the situation.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.