malfunctioning
malfunctioning — verb
- malfunctioningpresent simple I / you / we / they
- malfunctionings3rd person singular
- malfunctioninging-ing form
- malfunctioningedpast simple
1. when a machine, device, or system stops working properly or does not do what it
when a machine, device, or system stops working properly or does not do what it is supposed to do.
The elevator malfunctioned on Monday morning, trapping three office workers between floors.
intransitive: [device] + malfunctioned + on [occasion]
Amara's laptop malfunctioned just before her presentation, so she borrowed a colleague's computer.
When a ticket machine malfunctions at the station, passengers can show their online booking to the conductor.
The hospital's backup generator malfunctioned during the power cut, activating the emergency lights.
Both printers on the second floor have malfunctioned twice this month, and staff are frustrated.
- break down
more informal; often suggests complete stoppage of a vehicle or large machine
- fail
broader meaning; can apply to plans, relationships, and organs, not just machines
- glitch
informal; describes a small, temporary problem rather than a total failure
- work properly
general opposite; used in everyday speech
- function
neutral and formal opposite; e.g., 'The system functions as expected'
文法句型
[machine/device] + malfunction + on [occasion]
用法筆記
Intransitive only — do not use a direct object after malfunction. Common with machines, electronics, and automated systems rather than living things.
常見錯誤
malfunctioning — noun
1. a situation in which a machine, device, or system does not work correctly or sto
a situation in which a machine, device, or system does not work correctly or stops working.
The flight was delayed by three hours because of a mechanical malfunction in the landing gear.
a malfunction + in [specific part]
Factory workers reported a serious malfunction in the cooling system and stopped the production line.
Repeated malfunctions in the traffic lights led the city council to install new hardware across the district.
A software malfunction caused the scheduling system to delete all appointments for the week.
The engineer traced the malfunction to a single faulty microchip inside the control panel.
- smooth operation
describes the ideal working state of equipment
- proper function
formal register; used in manuals and reports
文法句型
a malfunction + in [part/component/system]
malfunction + of [device]
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific instance (one malfunction / several malfunctions), uncountable when describing the general state (the system is prone to malfunction). Technical writing prefers countable usage.