[ noun ] the state of being defective <noun.state>
Defective \De*fect"ive\, a. [L. defectivus: cf. F. d['e]fectif. See {Defect}.] 1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account; a defective character; defective rules.
2. (Gram.) Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation; as, a defective noun or verb. -- {De*fect"ive*ly}, adv. -- {De*fect"ive*ness}, n.