defuse
C1Formal (in technical explosive context) / General (in figurative context)
Definition
Meaning
To remove the fuse from (an explosive device), making it safe.
To make a dangerous, tense, or hostile situation less intense or threatening.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a verb. Often confused with 'diffuse'. The figurative sense is now more common than the literal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Both regions use the literal and figurative senses identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word strongly connotes proactive intervention to prevent an explosion (literal) or a crisis (figurative).
Frequency
The figurative sense is dominant in everyday usage in both BrE and AmE. The literal sense is confined to military, police, and security contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
defuse sthdefuse sth by -ingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “defuse the ticking time bomb (figurative)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The manager intervened to defuse the conflict between the two departments.
Academic
Diplomatic efforts were crucial to defuse the regional crisis.
Everyday
She told a joke to defuse the awkward silence.
Technical
The bomb squad worked carefully to defuse the improvised explosive device.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Specialists were called to defuse the unexploded bomb.
- His apology helped to defuse the row over the comments.
American English
- The negotiator's calm demeanor helped defuse the hostage situation.
- They defused the old landmine found on the property.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police defused the bomb.
- The teacher tried to defuse the fight between the students.
- They defused the dangerous device safely.
- Her humorous remark was perfect to defuse the tension in the meeting.
- Skilled diplomacy is needed to defuse this international crisis.
- The government introduced new measures in an attempt to defuse widespread public anger.
- The report's controversial findings threatened to defuse only after a lengthy public inquiry.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DE-fuse = take OUT the FUSE. De-escalate a FUSE-trating situation.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PROBLEM IS AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE / TENSION IS A BOMB PRIMED TO DETONATE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'diffuse' (распространять). The Russian direct equivalent 'обезвреживать' is correct for the literal sense, but for the figurative sense, 'разрядить (обстановку)' or 'снять (напряжение)' is more natural.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'diffuse'. Incorrect: *He diffused the argument. Correct: He defused the argument.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'defuse' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Defuse' means to make a bomb safe or reduce tension. 'Diffuse' as a verb means to spread something widely, and as an adjective, it means not concentrated. They are often confused.
No. While the original meaning relates to explosives, the figurative meaning—to reduce tension or danger in a situation—is now the most common use.
It is standard in both formal and informal contexts. In technical bomb disposal contexts, it is formal jargon; in everyday speech, it is a standard, slightly formal synonym for 'calm' or 'de-escalate'.
The most frequent error is spelling it as 'diffuse' due to the similar pronunciation, leading to a completely different meaning.
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