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
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
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
defuse
(diːˈfjuːz) verb1. to remove the fuse from (a bomb etc). desactivar
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.