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- Dictionarymalfunction/malˈfʌŋ(k)ʃn/
verb
- 1. (of a piece of equipment or machinery) fail to function normally: "the unit is clearly malfunctioning"
noun
- 1. a failure to function normally: "a computer malfunction"
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a failure to work or operate correctly: Shortly before the crash the pilot had reported a malfunction of the aircraft's navigation system. Synonyms.
: a failure to operate or function in the normal or correct manner : the action or an instance of malfunctioning. a hardware/equipment malfunction. Once thought to be a disease itself dropsy is now known to be a sign of several kinds of body malfunction, especially congestive heart failure and kidney disease. C. Clairborne Ray.
To malfunction is to fail to work properly. If your toaster spits out a charred, smoky mess no matter what setting it’s on, your toaster is definitely malfunctioning. When something functions, it works. Adding the prefix -mal (meaning "bad") to function indicates bad or unsuccessful functioning.
Malfunction definition: failure to function properly. See examples of MALFUNCTION used in a sentence.
a situation in which a machine or system stops working normally: Investigators believe the spillage was caused by a malfunction at the plant in the immediate aftermath of the earth tremor. a technical / mechanical / electrical malfunction. a computer / equipment /system (s) malfunction.
malfunction. (mælfʌŋkʃən ) Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense malfunctions , present participle malfunctioning , past tense, past participle malfunctioned. verb. If a machine or part of the body malfunctions, it fails to work properly. [formal]
Define malfunction. malfunction synonyms, malfunction pronunciation, malfunction translation, English dictionary definition of malfunction. intr.v. mal·func·tioned , mal·func·tion·ing , mal·func·tions To fail to function properly.