flaw flaw [flɔː ǁ flɒː] noun [countable]
1. a mistake or weakness in a machine, system etc that prevents it from working correctly:
flaw in
• The drought exposed a serious flaw in the dam.
• Investigators believe that a design flaw (= mistake or weakness in the way something was made ) in the reactor's cooling system caused the accident.
• The space telescope had a fundamental flaw (= a very basic and serious one ) in one of its two mirrors.
2. a mistake in an argument, plan, or set of ideas:
flaw in
• Small banks are missing from the plan and this is the main flaw in the Treasury's approach.
• There's a fatal flaw (= serious weakness which makes something wrong ) in their logic.
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flaw UK US /flɔː/ noun [C]
► a fault, mistake, or weakness, especially one that happens while something is being planned or made: »
The company had to spend millions correcting design flaws.
serious/major/minor flaw (in sth) »There seemed to be no serious flaws in the proposal and it was recommended for further consideration.
Financial and business terms. 2012.