ENGLISH
REFERENCE

flaw

n.
US //ˈfɫɔ// UK //flˈɔː// flaw
  1. 1 a defect or imperfection (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a small mistake, mark, or weakness that stops something from being perfect.

    a defect, fault, or imperfection in a physical object or an abstract concept like a plan or character.

    Example

    The diamond was cheaper because it had a tiny flaw that you could only see with a lens.

    Example

    The legal team spent weeks searching for a flaw in the contract that would allow their client to withdraw without penalty.
  2. 2 a gust of wind (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary Archaic

    a sudden, short burst of wind or a brief storm.

    a sudden gust of wind or a brief, intense storm; often used in nautical or meteorological contexts.

    Example

    A sudden flaw of wind rattled the window frames and then vanished as quickly as it came.

    Example

    The small vessel struggled against a sudden flaw that swept across the bay, threatening to capsize the inexperienced crew.
Etymology 1

From Middle English flawe, flay (“a flake of fire or snow, spark, splinter”), probably from Old Norse flaga (“a flag or slab of stone, flake”), from Proto-Germanic flagō (“a layer of soil”), from Proto-Indo-European plok- (“broad, flat”). Cognate with Icelandic flaga (“flake”), Swedish flaga (“flake, scale”), Danish flage (“flake”), Middle Low German vlage (“a layer of soil”), Old English flōh (“a fragment, piece”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English flaugh, from Middle Dutch vlāghe or Middle Low German vlāge, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic flagā. Or, possibly of North Germanic origin, from Swedish flaga (“gust of wind”), from Old Norse flaga; all from Proto-Germanic *flagǭ (“blow, strike”). See modern Dutch vlaag (“gust of wind”).

Word family

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