What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Dent vs Deform - What's the difference?

dent | deform |

In transitive terms the difference between dent and deform

is that dent is to impact something, producing a dent while deform is to alter the shape of by stress.

In intransitive terms the difference between dent and deform

is that dent is to develop a dent or dents while deform is to become misshapen or changed in shape.

As a noun dent

is a shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact.

As an adjective deform is

deformed, misshapen.

dent

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) . More at dint.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact.
    • The crash produced a dent in the left side of the car.
  • (by extension, informal) A sudden negative change, such as loss, damage, weakening, consumption or diminution, especially one produced by an external force, event or action
    • That purchase put a bit of a dent in my wallet.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=April 11 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Andy Carroll's first goals since his £35m move to Liverpool put a dent in Manchester City's Champions League hopes as they were emphatically swept aside at Anfield.}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To impact something, producing a dent.
  • To develop a dent or dents.
    • ''Copper is soft and dents easily.

    Etymology 2

    (etyl), from (etyl) dens, dentis, tooth. See tooth.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (engineering) A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc.
    • (Knight)

    Anagrams

    * English ergative verbs ----

    deform

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To change the form of, negatively.
  • To change the looks of, negatively; to disfigure.
    • a face deformed by bitterness
  • To mar the character of.
    • a marriage deformed by jealousy
  • To alter the shape of by stress.
  • To become misshapen or changed in shape.

    • Synonyms

    * distort, contort, warp

    Derived terms

    * deformable * deformation

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Deformed, misshapen.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.xii:
    • who so kild that monster most deforme , / And him in hardy battaile ouercame, / Should haue mine onely daughter to his Dame [...].

    Anagrams

    * English ergative verbs