defeat 常作名词或动词:
/dɪˈfiːt/
He defeated his opponent in two sets.
他用两盘击败了对手。
Despite careful planning, a sudden storm defeated their attempt to reach the summit.
尽管计划周密,一场突如其来的暴风雨还是使他们登顶的尝试落空。
defeat 源自古法语 defait / defaire(意为“拆开、毁坏、使无效”),进一步来自拉丁语 *dis-*(分开、否定)+ facere(做)。因此它最初带有“使事情做不成、使之无效”的含义,后来扩展到“击败、战胜”。