different between defusive vs defuse

English

Etymology

From defuse +? -ive

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??fju?s?v/

Adjective

defusive (comparative more defusive, superlative most defusive)

1. That defuses.

English

Etymology 1

de- +? fuse

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di??fju?z/
• Rhymes: -u?z

Verb

defuse (third-person singular simple present defuses, present participle defusing, simple past and past participle defused)

1. (transitive) To remove the fuse from (a bomb, etc.).
2. (transitive) To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile.

   to defuse a hostage situation

Usage notes

The words defuse and diffuse are sometimes confused.

Related terms

• defusion
• defusive
• defuze

Translations

Etymology 2

Compare diffuse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??fju?z/
• Rhymes: -u?z
• Homophones: diffuse

Verb

defuse (third-person singular simple present defuses, present participle defusing, simple past and past participle defused)

1. (obsolete) To disorder; to make shapeless.
   • 1605, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King Lear, I. iv. 2:

     If but as well I other accents borrow / That can my speech defuse,