Defective, a.
Etymology: [L. defectivus: cf. F. défectif. See Defect.]
1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account; a defective character; defective rules.
2. (Gram.)
Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation; as, a defective noun or verb. -- De*fect"ive*ly, adv. -- De*fect"ive*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists defective only as an antonym, under perfect.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given