fault

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 Related terms 2 French 2.1 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /fɔːlt/, /fɒlt/, SAMPA: /fO:lt/
• (US) IPA: /fɔːlt/, /fɑːlt/
•  Audio (RP)^{help, file}
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɔːlt

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English faulte, faute from Anglo-Norman faute, faulte from Old French faute, faulte from Vulgar Latin *fallita "shortcoming" from Latin falsus, pp. of fallere "to deceive". Displaced native Middle English schuld, schuild "fault" (from Old English scyld "fault"), Middle English lac "fault, lack" (from Middle Dutch lak "lack, fault"), Middle English last "fault, vice" (from Old Norse lǫstr, löstr "fault, vice, crime").

[edit] Noun

fault (plural faults)

1. A defect; something that detracts from perfection.
2. A mistake or error.
3. A weakness of character.
4. A minor offense.
5. Blame; the responsibility for a mistake.
6. (geology) A fracture in a rock formation causing a discontinuity
7. (tennis) An illegal serve.
8. (electrical) An abnormal connection in a circuit.

[edit] Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:defect

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to fault (third-person singular simple present faults, present participle faulting, simple past and past participle faulted)

1. (transitive) To criticize, blame or find fault with something or someone.
2. (intransitive, geology) To fracture.
3. (intransitive) To commit a mistake or error.

[edit] Translations

• French: mettre en défaut (1), trouver une faille dans (1), se failler (2), faillir (3)

[edit] Related terms

• at fault
• to a fault

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[edit] French

[edit] Verb

fault

1. Obsolete spelling of faut.