- The definition of a fault is a weakness in the rock strata that can shift and create an earthquake.
An example of fault is the San Andreas fault line in California.
- Fault means a mistake or a weakness.
An example of fault is having a problem telling the truth.
- Fault is defined as to blame or to commit a mistake.
- An example of fault is for a child to blame a broken vase on his brother.
- An example of fault is to tell a lie.
Part of the San Andreas fault.
- Obsolete failure to have or do what is required; lack
- something that mars the appearance, character, structure, etc.; defect or failing
- something done wrongly; specif.,
- a misdeed; offense
- an error; mistake
- responsibility for something wrong; blame: it's her fault that they are late
- Elec. a defect or point of defect in the wiring or connections of a circuit, which prevents the current from following the intended path
- Geol. a fracture or zone of fractures in rock strata together with movement that displaces the sides relative to one another
- Hunting a break in the line of the scent
- Volleyball, Tennis
- an improper serve; specif., a serve that hits the net or lands outside the court
- a ball improperly served
Origin of faultMiddle English faute ; from Old French faulte, a lack ; from Vulgar Latin an unverified form fallita ; from an unverified form fallitus, for Classical Latin falsus: see false
- to find fault with; blame or criticize
- Geol. to cause a fault in
- to commit a fault: archaic except in racket sports
- Geol. to develop a fault
- unable to find the scent: said of hunting dogs
- not knowing what to do; perplexed
- guilty of error; deserving blamealso in fault
find fault (with)
to a fault
- a. A character weakness, especially a minor one.b. Something that impairs or detracts from physical perfection; a defect. See Synonyms at blemish.c. A mistake; an error: a grammatical fault; a fault in his reasoning.d. A minor offense or misdeed: committed her share of youthful faults.
- Responsibility for a mistake or an offense; culpability. See Synonyms at blame.
- Geology A fracture in the continuity of a rock formation caused by a shifting or dislodging of the earth's crust, in which adjacent surfaces are displaced relative to one another and parallel to the plane of fracture. Also called shift.
- Electronics A defect in a circuit or wiring caused by imperfect connections, poor insulation, grounding, or shorting.
- Sports A service of the ball that violates the rules in tennis and similar games.
- Archaic A lack or deficiency.
verbfault·ed, fault·ing, faults
- To find error or defect in; criticize or blame: faulted the author for poor research; faulted the book for inaccuracies.
- Geology To produce a fault in; fracture.
- To commit a mistake or an error.
- Geology To shift so as to produce a fault.
- Sports To commit a fault, as in tennis.
Origin of faultMiddle English faulte, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *fallita, from variant of Latin falsa, feminine past participle of fallere, to deceive, fail.
top: normal fault
center: reverse fault
bottom: strike-slip fault
- A defect; something that detracts from perfection.
- A mistake or error.
- No!. This is my fault, not yours
- A weakness of character; a failing.
- For all her faults, she's a good person at heart.
- A minor offense.
- Blame; the responsibility for a mistake.
- The fault lies with you.
- (seismology) A fracture in a rock formation causing a discontinuity.
- (mining) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam.
- slate fault, dirt fault, etc.
- (tennis) An illegal serve.
- (electrical) An abnormal connection in a circuit.
- (hunting) A lost scent; act of losing the scent.
(third-person singular simple present faults, present participle faulting, simple past and past participle faulted)
From Middle English faute, faulte, from Anglo-Norman and Old French faute, from Vulgar Latin *fallita (“shortcoming”), from Latin falsus, perfect passive participle of fallō (“deceive”). Displaced native Middle English schuld, schuild (“fault”) (from Old English scyld (“fault”)), Middle English lac (“fault, lack”) (from Middle Dutch lak (“lack, fault”)), Middle English last (“fault, vice”) (from Old Norse lǫstr, löstr (“fault, vice, crime”)).
fault - Computer Definition
fault - Legal Definition