Search Result for "failure": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (7)

1. an act that fails;
- Example: "his failure to pass the test"

2. an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose;
- Example: "the surprise party was a complete failure"

3. lack of success;
- Example: "he felt that his entire life had been a failure"
- Example: "that year there was a crop failure"

4. a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently;
[syn: failure, loser, nonstarter, unsuccessful person]

5. an unexpected omission;
- Example: "he resented my failure to return his call"
- Example: "the mechanic's failure to check the brakes"

6. inability to discharge all your debts as they come due;
- Example: "the company had to declare bankruptcy"
- Example: "fraudulent loans led to the failure of many banks"
[syn: bankruptcy, failure]

7. loss of ability to function normally;
- Example: "kidney failure"



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fail \Fail\, n. [OF. faille, from failir. See Fail, v. i.]
   1. Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly
      superseded by failure or failing, except in the phrase
      without fail. "His highness' fail of issue." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Death; decease. [Obs.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Failure \Fail"ure\, n. [From Fail.]
   1. Cessation of supply, or total defect; a failing;
      deficiency; as, failure of rain; failure of crops.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Omission; nonperformance; as, the failure to keep a
      promise.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Want of success; the state of having failed.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Decay, or defect from decay; deterioration; as, the
      failure of memory or of sight.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A becoming insolvent; bankruptcy; suspension of payment;
      as, failure in business.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. A failing; a slight fault. [Obs.] --Johnson.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

failure
    n 1: an act that fails; "his failure to pass the test"
    2: an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose; "the
       surprise party was a complete failure" [ant: success]
    3: lack of success; "he felt that his entire life had been a
       failure"; "that year there was a crop failure" [ant:
       success]
    4: a person with a record of failing; someone who loses
       consistently [syn: failure, loser, nonstarter,
       unsuccessful person] [ant: achiever, succeeder,
       success, winner]
    5: an unexpected omission; "he resented my failure to return his
       call"; "the mechanic's failure to check the brakes"
    6: inability to discharge all your debts as they come due; "the
       company had to declare bankruptcy"; "fraudulent loans led to
       the failure of many banks" [syn: bankruptcy, failure]
    7: loss of ability to function normally; "kidney failure"


The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

failure

   The inability of a system or system component to perform a
   required function within specified limits.  A failure may be
   produced when a fault is encountered.

   (1996-05-13)