imperfect

[ im-pur-fikt ]

/ ɪmˈpɜr fɪkt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR imperfect ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by defects or weaknesses: imperfect vision.

not perfect; lacking completeness: imperfect knowledge.

Grammar. noting action or state still in process at some temporal point of reference, particularly in the past.

Law. being without legal effect or support; unenforceable.

Botany. (of a flower) diclinous.

Music. of or relating to the interval of a major or minor third or sixth. Compare perfect(def 13a).

noun Grammar.

the imperfect tense.

another verb formation or construction with imperfect meaning.

a form in the imperfect, as Latin portābam, “I was carrying.”

Origin of imperfect

1300–50; < Latin imperfectus unfinished (see im-², perfect); replacing Middle English imparfit < Middle French imparfait < Latin, as above

SYNONYMS FOR imperfect

1 defective, faulty.

2 incomplete, underdeveloped; immature.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR imperfect ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR imperfect

2 complete, developed.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR imperfect ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM imperfect

im·per·fect·ly, adverb im·per·fect·ness, noun

Words nearby imperfect

imperceptible, imperception, imperceptive, impercipient, imperf., imperfect, imperfect competition, imperfect contrition, imperfect flower, imperfect fungus, imperfect stage

Example sentences from the Web for imperfectly

Our march was very much hindered by the imperfectly burned corn and grass stalks having fallen across the paths.

A Popular Account of Dr. Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries |David Livingstone
Hitherto no branch of the zoology of Ceylon has been so imperfectly investigated as its Ichthyology.

Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon |J. Emerson Tennent
He knew her so imperfectly, that he could not feel sure even as to the probabilities of the case.

In the Year of Jubilee |George Gissing
Madame could read English well, though she spoke it imperfectly.

Six to Sixteen |Juliana Horatia Ewing

Face to face with an opportunity of telling it, her resolution wavered and her mind, imperfectly made up, favoured postponement.

When Ghost Meets Ghost |William Frend De Morgan

British Dictionary definitions for imperfectly

imperfect

/ (ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt) /

adjective

exhibiting or characterized by faults, mistakes, etc; defective

not complete or finished; deficient

botany

(of flowers) lacking functional stamens or pistils
(of fungi) not undergoing sexual reproduction

grammar denoting a tense of verbs used most commonly in describing continuous or repeated past actions or events, as for example was walking as opposed to walked

law (of a trust, an obligation, etc) lacking some necessary formality to make effective or binding; incomplete; legally unenforceable See also executory (def. 1)

music

(of a cadence) proceeding to the dominant from the tonic, subdominant, or any chord other than the dominant
of or relating to all intervals other than the fourth, fifth, and octaveCompare perfect (def. 9)

noun

grammar

the imperfect tense
a verb in this tense

Derived forms of imperfect

imperfectly, adverb imperfectness, noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

imperfect

adjective

noun Grammar.

Origin of imperfect

SYNONYMS FOR imperfect

ANTONYMS FOR imperfect

OTHER WORDS FROM imperfect

Words nearby imperfect

Example sentences from the Web for imperfectly

British Dictionary definitions for imperfectly

adjective

noun

Derived forms of imperfect

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

imperfect

adjective

noun Grammar.

Origin of imperfect

SYNONYMS FOR imperfect

ANTONYMS FOR imperfect

OTHER WORDS FROM imperfect

Words nearby imperfect

Words related to imperfectly

Example sentences from the Web for imperfectly

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adjective

noun

Derived forms of imperfect

British Dictionary definitions for imperfectly