DEFUSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does defuse mean? 

• DEFUSE (verb)
  The verb DEFUSE has 1 sense:

1. remove the triggering device from

  Familiarity information: DEFUSE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEFUSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they defuse    ... he / she / it defuses   
Past simple: defused   
Past participle: defused   
-ing form: defusing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Remove the triggering device from

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "defuse" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

fuse (equip with a fuse; provide with a fuse)

Derivation:

defusing (the act of deactivating or making ineffective (as a bomb))

 Context examples 

At this point, researchers can only speculate on why accepting your joyless emotions can defuse them, like dark clouds passing swiftly in front of the sun and out of sight.

(Embracing Darker Moods Makes You Feel Better, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)