flaw

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An imperfection, often concealed, that impairs soundness: a flaw in the crystal that caused it to shatter. See Synonyms at blemish.
2. n. A defect or shortcoming in something intangible: They share the character flaw of arrogance.
3. n. A defect in a legal document that can render it invalid.
4. v. To make or become defective.
5. n. A brief gust or blast of wind.
6. n. A passing storm; a squall.
7. n. Obsolete A burst of passion.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A flake; a fragment; a shiver.
2. n. A thin cake, as of ice.
3. n. A breach; a crack; a defect of continuity or cohesion; a weak spot or place.
4. n. Any defect or imperfection; anything which impairs quality or character; a fault: as, a flaw in a will, a deed, or a statute.
5. n. In weaving, a bore, tangle, or skip.
6. n. A disease in which the skin recedes from the nails. Synonyms Chink, cleft, rift. Blemish, imperfection, spot, speck, stain.
7. To cause a flaw or defect in; break; crack; mar.
8. To violate; invalidate.
9. n. A sudden gust of wind; a sudden and violent wind-storm.
10. n. A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; an uproar.
11. n. A sudden commotion of mind.
12. n. Synonyms Gust, etc. See wind, n.
13. An obsolete or dialectal variant of flay.

Wiktionary

1. n. A crack or breach, a gap or fissure; a defect of continuity or cohesion.
2. n. A defect, fault, or imperfection, especially one that is hidden.
3. n. A defect or error in a contract or other document which may make the document invalid.
4. v. transitive To add a flaw to, to make imperfect or defective.
5. v. intransitive To become imperfect or defective.
6. n. A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.
7. n. A storm of short duration.
8. n. A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a quarrel.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A crack or breach; a gap or fissure; a defect of continuity or cohesion.
2. n. A defect; a fault
3. n. obsolete A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a quarrel.
4. n. A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.
5. v. To crack; to make flaws in.
6. v. obsolete To break; to violate; to make of no effect.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an imperfection in an object or machine
2. n. an imperfection in a plan or theory or legal document that causes it to fail or that reduces its effectiveness
3. n. defect or weakness in a person's character
4. v. add a flaw or blemish to; make imperfect or defective