▪ I. defuse, v.
(diːˈfjuːz)
[f. de- II. 2 + fuse n.]
trans. To remove the fuse from (an explosive device). Also fig.
| 1943 Word Study Oct. 7 A group of fliers defused a 1,000-pound bomb that had jammed in the racks when their plane was flying..over an Italian target. 1958 Economist 2 Aug. 352 Thought has to be given now, without delay, to the means of reducing the risks involved in this inevitable act of disengagement—of defusing it, in effect. 1960 Times 20 Jan. 6/1 Jack decides to save Barry by defusing the discovered bomb. 1967 Listener 1 June 708/2 Mr George Brown..says the Russians are anxious to ‘defuse’ the middle east. 1968 Economist 3 Feb. 11/2 The early release of the crew alone would defuse this crisis, as things now stand. 1970 Guardian 9 May 1/3 President Nixon['s]..news conference..which he evidently hopes will defuse much of the students' anger. |
▪ II. defuse, -ed, -edly, defusion, -ive
obs. ff. diffuse, etc.