deform

1
[ dih-fawrm ]
/ dɪˈfɔrm /

verb (used with object)

to mar the natural form or shape of; put out of shape; disfigure: In cases where the drug was taken during pregnancy, its effects deformed the infants.
to make ugly, ungraceful, or displeasing; mar the beauty of; spoil: The trees had been completely deformed by the force of the wind.
to change the form of; transform.
Geology, Mechanics. to subject to deformation: The metal was deformed under stress.

verb (used without object)

to undergo deformation.

Origin of deform

1
1350–1400; Middle English deformen < Latin dēfōrmāre, equivalent to dē- de- + fōrmāre to form

SYNONYMS FOR deform

1 misshape. See mar.
2 ruin.

OTHER WORDS FROM deform

British Dictionary definitions for deformable

deform
/ (dɪˈfɔːm) /

verb

to make or become misshapen or distorted
(tr) to mar the beauty of; disfigure
(tr) to subject or be subjected to a stress that causes a change of dimensions

Derived forms of deform

deformable, adjective deformability, noun deformer, noun

Word Origin for deform

C15: from Latin dēformāre, from de- + forma shape, beauty