Library / English Dictionary

MALFUNCTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A failure to function normally

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("malfunction" is a kind of...):

failure (an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "malfunction"):

blowout (a sudden malfunction of a part or apparatus)

stall (a malfunction in the flight of an aircraft in which there is a sudden loss of lift that results in a downward plunge)

Derivation:

malfunction (fail to function or function improperly)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fail to function or function improperly

Example:

the coffee maker malfunctioned

Synonyms:

malfunction; misfunction

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

break; break down; conk out; die; fail; give out; give way; go; go bad (stop operating or functioning)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "malfunction"):

jam (get stuck and immobilized)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

function (perform as expected when applied)

Derivation:

malfunction (a failure to function normally)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Muscle cramps can be caused by nerves that malfunction.

(Muscle Cramps, NIH)

LEPR malfunction is associated with diabetes and obesity.

(Leptin Receptor, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying the defect or malfunction that occurred during use of the device.

(Device Malfunction Code, NCI Thesaurus)

Testing devices for malfunctions that arise from problems with its components or materials or how its materials or components react to other elements either within the device or within the environment.

(Device Material and Chemistry Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

Otulipenia is caused by the malfunction of OTULIN, a single gene on chromosome 5.

(Researchers discover otulipenia, a new inflammatory disease, NIH)

A device that malfunctions due to a component(s) that does not operate correctly and according to the device's specifications.

(Device Incompatible Component Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

One of the drones began to malfunction, but it was able to send back the data it had collected, which revealed a mass at a depth below 1400 feet.

(Lost 52 Project announces discovery of wrecked sub near Okinawa, Wikinews)

Evaluating a device to detect malfunctions caused by electromagnetic interference (unwanted disturbances from an external force e.g. radios, cell phones, or unintentional disturbances of another device)

(Device Electromagnetic Compatibility Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

The effect that a cardiac rhythm device malfunction had on the ability to stimulate the heart.

(CDISC SDTM Cardiac Rhythm Device Failure Manifestation Terminology, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

The cardiac rhythm device malfunction affected the left ventricular (LV) pacing.

(Left Cardiac Ventricular Pacing Malfunction, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)