defeat

verb

1. (transitive)To overcome in battle or contest.

   “Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.”

   “The Japanese defeated the Ming general Tsu Chʻeng-hsün 祖承訓 at Pʻing jang 平壤 in 1592, the first year of Bunroku 文祿 of Japan, and the fighting continued for some years; but at Hideyoshi's death the Japanese troops left Korea.”

   “My personal success or failure is insignificant; the rise or fall of the nation is my responsibility and must not be shirked. Upon introspection, I feel I am firmer than ever in confidence that the Communists will be defeated. These are feelings which will comfort Father's soul in Heaven.”

   “The 36-year-old defeats US Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a fiery 44-year-old Democrat from the Dallas area, in a contentious primary that became increasingly personal.”

2. (transitive)To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.

   “He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes.”

   “In one instance he defeated his own purpose.”

3. (transitive)To nullify

   “The escheators […] defeated the right heir of his succession.”

4. To prevent (something) from being achieved.

   “The last active L.Y.R. 0-6-0ST (apart from works shunters), No. 51408, has been moved from Bolton to Agecroft for use in New Bailey Yard, Salford, where a sharp 1 in 27 curve is said to have defeated all attempts so far to employ diesel shunters; an ex-L.Y.R. 0-4-0ST also works here.”

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The act or instance of being defeated, of being overcome or vanquished; a loss.

   “Licking their wounds after a temporary defeat, they planned their next move.”

   “Two defeats in five games coming into this contest, and a draw with Everton, ultimately cost Sir Alex Ferguson's side in what became the most extraordinary finale to the league championship since Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield in 1989.”

2. (countable, uncountable)The act or instance of defeating, of overcoming, vanquishing.

   “The inscription records her defeat of the country's enemies in a costly war.”

3. (countable, uncountable)Frustration (by prevention of success), stymieing; (law) nullification.

   “... is subsequently issued to him, in accordance with his perfect equity thus acquired, by a legal fiction which the law creates for the protection, but not for the defeat, of his title.”

   “She could see no justice in being forced into a position that promised to end in further humiliation and defeat of her hopes.”

4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Destruction, ruin.

   “and made defeat of her virginity”