Dictionary

disfigure en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /dɪsˈfɪɡjɚ/ (General-American)
• /dɪsˈfɪɡə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English disfiguren, from Anglo-Norman desfigurer.

Meanings

1. to irreversibly damage the shape or structure of something, negatively affecting its appearance or functionality without completely destroying it.
   • The North British Railway was always anxious to connect its line to Helensburgh Pier but the local residents would not permit their foreshore or promenade to be disfigured, so the company had to resort further east and on May 18, 1882, opened the railway pier and station at Craigendoran. 1959 November, G. H. Robin, “Railways to Helensburgh—a pre-electrification retrospect”, in Trains Illustrated, page 544:
   • His face was disfigured by a terrible fire many years ago, leaving deep scars across his crooked nose.

Forms

Deriveds

disfigurative · disfigurer · disfigurement · disfiguration · disfiguringly

Synonyms

leper · disfeature

Translations (52)

fi turmella (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fo spilla (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · cmn 變醜 /变丑 (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · rue начудациц (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · sh izobličiti (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · ga ainimhigh (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · de verunstalten (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · eo disaspektigi (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · pl zniekształcać (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fo avskepla (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · izh muglia (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fr défigurer (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · pl zniekształcić (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · la dēturpō (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · ru изуро́довать (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · bg обезобразявам (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · sh unakaziti (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · rue скалїчиц ше (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · got 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · ota بوزمق (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · cy hagru (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fi runnella (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · da skamfere (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · pt desfigurar (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · es desfigurar (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · ga máchailigh (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · pl oszpecić (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · bg обезформя (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · ru уро́довать (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · rue чудациц (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · tl despigurahin (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · mhr каргаш (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · mk изобличи (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · pl oszpecać (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · de entstellen (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · sv vanställa (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · bg обезформям (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · da vansire (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · it sfigurare (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fo misprýða (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · bg обезобразя (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · tl papangitin (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · ca desfigurar (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fo lýta (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · bg обезформявам (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · eo deformi (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fo meiðsla (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fo skemma (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · fo løsta (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · rue очудациц (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · eo misformi (to damage something's appearance or functionality) · ja 醜くする (to damage something's appearance or functionality)