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| fail [ fayl ] |
verb (past and past participle failed, present participle fail·ing, 3rd person present singular fails) |
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| Definition: |
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1. intransitive verb be unsuccessful: to be unsuccessful in trying to do something
  This plan can't fail.
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2. intransitive verb be unable to do something: to be incapable of doing something or unwilling to do it
She failed to see what the problem was.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb education not pass exam or course: to fall short of the standard required to pass an examination, course, or piece of academic work
He failed English.
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4. transitive verb education judge student not good enough: to judge a student not good enough to pass an examination, course, or piece of academic work
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5. intransitive verb stop functioning or growing: to stop working or not perform or grow as expected
The brakes on the car failed.
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6. intransitive verb commerce collapse financially: to collapse financially, becoming insolvent or bankrupt
The business failed after six years.
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7. transitive verb let somebody down: to abandon, forsake, or let somebody down by not doing what is expected or needed
My courage failed me.
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8. intransitive verb become weaker: to lose strength, loudness, or brightness
The light began to fail.
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noun |
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| Definition: |
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stock exchange stockbroker's default: the failure by a stockbroker to deliver stock to a purchaser within the normal delivery period
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| [13th century. Via Old French faillir< Latin fallere "deceive somebody's hopes, disappoint"] |
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without fail without exception
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