fault

fault
1 noun (C)
1 RESPONSIBLE FOR MISTAKE be sb's fault if something bad that has happened is someone's fault, they should be blamed for it, because they made a mistake or failed to do something: I'm really sorry - it's all my fault. | be sb's own fault: She failed the test but it was her own fault, she didn't do any work. | be sb's fault (that): It's not my fault that the brakes didn't work properly. | be sb's fault for doing sth: He lost his job, but it was his own fault for telling lies.
2 at fault if a particular person, organization, or system is at fault, they are responsible for something bad that has happened: The police said that the other driver was at fault - he should have slowed down.
3 STH WRONG WITH STH
a) something that is wrong with a machine, system, design etc, which prevents it from working properly: a design fault
(+ in): It sounds like there's a fault in one of the loudspeakers.
b) something that is wrong with something, which could be improved: I suppose the book's worst fault is its total lack of good taste. | for all its faults (=in spite of its faults): The treaty was a great achievement for all its faults.
c) a mistake in the way that something was made, which spoils its appearance
(+ in): The sweater had a fault in it and I had to take it back.
4 SB'S CHARACTER a bad or weak part of someone's character: His worst fault is his arrogance. | I really like Sarah, but she does have her faults. | for all his/her etc faults (=in spite of someone's faults): For all his faults he was a good father.
5 find fault with to criticize someone or something and complain about them: I wish you'd stop trying to find fault with everything I do.
6 through no fault of her/my etc own used to say that something bad that happened to someone was not caused by them: Through no fault of her own, Lisa lost her job.
7 CRACK a large crack in the rocks that form the Earth's surface
8 generous/kind etc to a fault extremely generous, kind etc: Generous to a fault, Mr Samson agreed to provide the necessary equipment free of charge.
9 TENNIS a mistake made when a player is serving (serve1 (10))
2 verb (T) to find a mistake in something : cannot fault sth: Richards gave a superb performance which could not be faulted. | be hard/difficult to fault: His cooking's excellent - it's hard to fault.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • fault — n [Anglo French faute lack, failing, ultimately from Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint] 1: a usu. intentional act forbidden by law; also: a usu. intentional omission to do something (as to exercise due care) required by law see also negligence …   Law dictionary

  • Fault — Fault, n. [OE. faut, faute, F. faute (cf. It., Sp., & Pg. falta), fr. a verb meaning to want, fail, freq., fr. L. fallere to deceive. See {Fail}, and cf. {Default}.] 1. Defect; want; lack; default. [1913 Webster] One, it pleases me, for fault of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fault — [fɔːlt ǁ fɒːlt] noun [countable] 1. MANUFACTURING something that is wrong with a machine, system etc that prevents it from working correctly: fault in • Soviet engineers identified 32 design faults in the reactor, any of which could have led to… …   Financial and business terms

  • fault — [fôlt] n. [ME faute < OFr faulte, a lack < VL * fallita < * fallitus, for L falsus: see FALSE] 1. Obs. failure to have or do what is required; lack 2. something that mars the appearance, character, structure, etc.; defect or failing 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • Fault — may refer to:*Fault (geology), planar rock fractures which show evidence of relative movement *Fault (technology), an abnormal condition or defect at the component, equipment, or sub system level which may lead to a failure *An asymmetric fault… …   Wikipedia

  • fault — FÁULT, faulturi, s.n. (La unele jocuri sportive) Act nesportiv (lovire intenţionată, trântire, împingere etc.) comis de un jucător asupra adversarului şi sancţionat de arbitru. [pr.: fa ult] – Din engl. fault. Trimis de RACAI, 21.11.2003. Sursa:… …   Dicționar Român

  • fault — n 1 imperfection, deficiency, shortcoming Analogous words: flaw, defect, *blemish: weakness, infirmity (see corresponding adjectives at WEAK) Antonyms: excellence 2 Fault, failing, frailty, foible, vice are comparable when they mean an… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • fault — ► NOUN 1) an unattractive or unsatisfactory feature; a defect or mistake. 2) responsibility for an accident or misfortune. 3) (in tennis) a service that infringes the rules. 4) Geology an extended break in a rock formation, marked by the relative …   English terms dictionary

  • Fault — Fault, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Faulted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Faulting}.] 1. To charge with a fault; to accuse; to find fault with; to blame. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] For that I will not fault thee. Old Song. [1913 Webster] 2. (Geol.) To interrupt the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fault´i|ly — fault|y «FL tee», adjective, fault|i|er, fault|i|est. 1. having faults; containing blemishes or errors; wrong; imperfect; defective: » …   Useful english dictionary

  • fault|y — «FL tee», adjective, fault|i|er, fault|i|est. 1. having faults; containing blemishes or errors; wrong; imperfect; defective: » …   Useful english dictionary

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