First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
deform
verb de·form \di-ˈfȯrm, dē-\
: to change something so that it no longer has its normal or original shape
Full Definition of DEFORM
transitive verb
1
: to spoil the form of
2
a : to spoil the looks of : disfigure <a face deformed by bitterness> b : to mar the character of <a marriage deformed by jealousy>
3
: to alter the shape of by stress
intransitive verb
: to become misshapen or changed in shape
— de·form·able \-mə-bəl\ adjective
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Origin of DEFORM
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French desfurmer, from Latin deformare, from de- + formare to form, from forma form
Synonym Discussion of DEFORM
deform, distort, contort, warp means to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting. deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth <a face deformed by hatred>. distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result <the odd camera angle distorts the figure> <disease had contorted her body>. warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane <warped floorboards>.
Rhymes with DEFORM
art form, aswarm, barnstorm, brainstorm, by-form, by storm, conform, Delorme, dust storm, firestorm, free-form, hailstorm, ice storm, inform, L-form, landform, life-form, line storm, lukewarm, perform, planform, platform, preform, rainstorm, re-form, reform, sandstorm, slip form, snowstorm, transform, triform, waveform, windstorm
DEFORM Defined for Kids
deform
verb de·form \di-ˈfȯrm\
de·formedde·form·ing
Definition of DEFORM for Kids
: to spoil the form or the natural appearance of
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