{
    "term": "flaw",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a mistake in something that means that it is not correct or does not work correctly",
            "sensetop": "flaw in something",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The argument is full of fundamental flaws."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The report reveals **fatal flaws** in security at the airport.",
                    "contextForm": "flaw in something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is still a basic flaw in your selection procedure."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Flaws have appeared in the new version of the software."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It took me a long time to find the flaw in her logic."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Engineers have detected serious design flaws."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "defect, fault",
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["big", "main", "major"],
                "verb + flaw": ["contain", "have", "look for"],
                "flaw + verb": ["appear", "become apparent"],
                "preposition": ["flaw in"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a weakness in somebody’s character",
            "sensetop": "flaw (in somebody/something)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "There is always a flaw in the character of a tragic hero."
                },
                {
                    "text": "After a short time, the flaws in her character became more apparent."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The hero's fatal flaw is ambition."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["big", "main", "major"],
                "verb + flaw": ["contain", "have", "look for"],
                "flaw + verb": ["appear", "become apparent"],
                "preposition": ["flaw in"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a fault or small break in something that makes it less attractive or valuable",
            "sensetop": "flaw (in something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The vase is in excellent condition except for a few small flaws in its base."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Unfortunately, this plate has a slight flaw in it."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["big", "main", "major"],
                "verb + flaw": ["contain", "have", "look for"],
                "flaw + verb": ["appear", "become apparent"],
                "preposition": ["flaw in"]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/flɔː/",
                "audio": "fl/flaw/flaw__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/flɔː/",
                "audio": "fl/flaw/flaw__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse flaga ‘slab’. The original sense was ‘a flake of snow’, later, ‘a fragment or splinter’, hence ‘a defect or imperfection’ (late 15th cent.)."
}