Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense deforms, present participle deforming, past tense, past participle deformed
verb
If something deforms a person's body or something else, it causes it to have an unnatural shape. In technical English, you can also say that the second thing deforms.
Bad rheumatoid arthritis deforms limbs. [VERB noun]
...the ability of a metal to deform to a new shape without cracking. [VERB]
Synonyms: disfigure, twist, injure, cripple More Synonyms of deform
deformedadjective
He was born with a deformed right leg.
Synonyms: distorted, bent, twisted, crooked More Synonyms of deform
Changing stresses bring about more cracking and rock deformation.
Synonyms: distortion, warping, contortion, malformation More Synonyms of deform
More Synonyms of deform
deform in British English
(dɪˈfɔːm)
verb
1.
to make or become misshapen or distorted
2. (transitive)
to mar the beauty of; disfigure
3.
to subject or be subjected to a stress that causes a change of dimensions
Derived forms
deformable (deˈformable)
adjective
deformability (deˌformaˈbility)
noun
deformer (deˈformer)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin dēformāre, from de- + forma shape, beauty
deform in American English
(diˈfɔrm; dɪˈfɔrm)
verb transitive
1.
to impair the form or shape of
2.
to make ugly; disfigure
3. Physics
to change the shape of by pressure or stress
verb intransitive
4.
to become deformed
SYNONYMY NOTE: deform implies a marring of form, appearance, or character, as if by pressure or stress[a body deformed by disease]; distort implies a twisting or wrenching out of the normal or proper shape or form [a mind distorted by fear]; contort suggests an even more violent wrenching out of shape so as to produce a grotesqueor unpleasant result [a face contorted by pain]; warp implies a bending out of shape, as of wood in drying, and, hence, suggests a turningaside from the true or right course [judgment warped by prejudice]
Word origin
ME deformen < OFr deformer < L deformare < de-, from + forma, form
Examples of 'deform' in a sentence
deform
Had two heart attacks when born, leaving her with weak hips and deformed feet and legs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
At school he wore braces on his deformed leg and at secondary school wore a built-up shoe.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Was he an animal with a man's soul or a man with a deformed body?
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
The graphics are outstanding, giving a sense of scale and deformed beauty.
The Sun (2015)
When her son was born with a deformed left leg, he had to have a serious operation at nine months.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
deform
British English: deform VERB
If something deforms a person's body, it causes it to have an unnatural shape.
Bad rheumatoid arthritis deforms limbs.
American English: deform
Brazilian Portuguese: deformar
Chinese: 使...畸形
European Spanish: deformar
French: déformer
German: deformieren
Italian: deformare
Japanese: 変形させる
Korean: 기형으로 만들다
European Portuguese: deformar
Latin American Spanish: deformar
1 (verb)
Definition
to put (something) out of shape or spoil its appearance
Severe rheumatoid arthritis deforms limbs.
Synonyms
disfigure
These items could be used to injure or disfigure someone.
twist
injure
A bomb exploded, seriously injuring five people.
cripple
ruin
The original decor was all ruined during renovation.
mar
The scar didn't mar his self-confidence, he rather liked it.
spoil
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
mutilate
His arm was mutilated in an industrial accident.
maim
One man has lost his life; another has been maimed.
deface
It's illegal to deface banknotes.
2 (verb)
Definition
to put (something) out of shape or spoil its appearance
Plastic deforms when subjected to heat.
Synonyms
distort
Make sure the image isn't distorted by lumps and bumps.
twist
The car was left a mess of twisted metal.
warp
Rainwater had warped the door's timber.
buckle
A freak wave had buckled the deck.
mangle
After being crushed, the car was mangled beyond all recognition.
contort
His face contorts as he screams out the lyrics.
gnarl
misshape
malform
Additional synonyms
in the sense of buckle
Definition
to bend or cause to bend out of shape, esp. as a result of pressure or heat
A freak wave had buckled the deck.
Synonyms
distort,
bend,
warp,
crumple,
contort
in the sense of contort
Definition
to twist or bend out of shape
His face contorts as he screams out the lyrics.
Synonyms
twist,
knot,
distort,
warp,
deform,
gnarl,
convolute,
misshape
in the sense of deface
Definition
to deliberately spoil the surface or appearance of