—n.
1 failure to fulfil an obligation, esp. to appear, pay, or act in some way.
2 lack, absence.
3 a preselected option adopted by a computer program when no alternative is specified by the user or programmer.
—v.
1 intr. fail to fulfil an obligation, esp. to pay money or to appear in a lawcourt.
2 tr. declare (a party) in default and give judgement against that party.
Phrases and idioms:
go by default
1 be ignored because of absence.
2 be absent. in default of because of the absence of. judgement by default judgement given for the plaintiff on the defendant's failure to plead. win by default win because an opponent fails to be present.
Etymology: ME f. OF defaut(e) f. defaillir fail f. Rmc (as DE-, L fallere deceive): cf. FAIL
Useful english dictionary. 2012.