Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Flaw"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Flaw \Flaw\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Flawed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Flawing}.]
1. To crack; to make flaws in.

The brazen caldrons with the frosts are flawed.
--Dryden.

2. To break; to violate; to make of no effect. [Obs.]

France hath flawed the league. --Shak.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Flaw \Flaw\, n. [OE. flai, flaw flake; cf. Sw. flaga flaw,
crack, breach, flake, D. vlaag gust of wind, Norw. flage,
flaag, and E. flag a flat stone.]
1. A crack or breach; a gap or fissure; a defect of
continuity or cohesion; as, a flaw in a knife or a vase.

This heart Shall break into a hundered thousand
flaws. --Shak.

2. A defect; a fault; as, a flaw in reputation; a flaw in a
will, in a deed, or in a statute.

Has not this also its flaws and its dark side?
--South.

3. A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a
quarrel. [Obs.]

And deluges of armies from the town Came pouring in;
I heard the mighty flaw. --Dryden.

4. A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.

Snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw. --Milton.

Like flaws in summer laying lusty corn. --Tennyson.

Syn: Blemish; fault; imperfection; spot; speck.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

flaw
n 1: an imperfection in a device or machine; "if there are any
defects you should send it back to the manufacturer"
[syn: {defect}, {fault}]
2: defect or weakness in a peron's character; "he had his
flaws, but he was great nonetheless"
v : add a flaw or blemish to; make imperfect or defective [syn:
{blemish}]

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