deform

/dɪˈfɔːm/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfɔːrm/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈfȯrm dē-/ (ame, mw)

deform — verb

  • deformpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • deformshe / she / it
  • deformedpast simple
  • deforming-ing form

1. to press, bend, heat, or hit something so that it no longer keeps its normal sha

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to press, bend, heat, or hit something so that it no longer keeps its normal shape.

例句

The crash deformed the car door so badly that it would not open.

deform + object through impact

Heat from the stove deformed the plastic spoon in seconds.

heat deformed + object

同義詞
  • distort

    slightly more formal; often used when the shape looks irregular or wrong

  • warp

    often used for wood, plastic, or metal changed by heat or moisture

  • bend

    more general and often less severe than deform

反義詞
  • straighten

    to make something return to a regular shape

文法句型

deform + object

deform + object + with/by + force or heat

用法筆記

Often used when force, heat, or pressure changes the shape of metal, plastic, bone, or another solid thing in an unwanted way.

常見錯誤

❌I deformed the paper neatly in half.
✅I folded the paper in half.
💡'deform' suggests an unwanted change of shape, not an ordinary neat action.

2. to lose your normal shape and end up bent, uneven, or pushed out of form.

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to lose your normal shape and end up bent, uneven, or pushed out of form.

例句

The wax figure deformed under the hot stage lights.

subject + deform + under + cause

After the flood, the wooden floor deformed near the kitchen wall.

同義詞
  • warp

    often used when wood, plastic, or metal changes shape because of heat or moisture

  • buckle

    suggests suddenly bending inward under pressure or weight

  • twist

    focuses on turning into a bent shape rather than any kind of misshaping

文法句型

subject + deform + under + pressure or heat

subject + deform + in/from + condition

用法筆記

Used when the thing itself changes shape. The cause is often heat, weight, water, or pressure, and the result is usually unwanted.

常見錯誤

❌The balloon deformed as it got bigger.
✅The balloon expanded as it got bigger.
💡'deform' suggests becoming the wrong shape, not simply becoming larger.