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defeat

Pronunciation: /dɪˈfiːt/

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Definition of defeat

verb

[with object]

win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat:Garibaldi defeated the Neapolitan army
prevent (someone) from achieving an aim:she was defeated by the last steep hill
prevent (an aim) from being achieved:don’t cheat by allowing your body to droop—this defeats the object of the exercise
reject or block (a motion or proposal):the amendment was defeated
be impossible for (someone) to understand:this line of reasoning defeats me, I must confess
Law render null and void; annul.

noun

an instance of defeating or being defeated:a 1-0 defeat by Grimsby [mass noun]:she had still not quite admitted defeat

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'undo, destroy, annul'): from Old French desfait 'undone', past participle of desfaire, from medieval Latin disfacere 'undo'

defeat in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of defeat in the US English dictionary

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