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# deform

«deform» in Mova's school dictionary: **To change the normal shape of something, often by…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

verb (deform, deforms, deformed, deforming)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To change the normal shape of something, often by bending, squashing or stretching it: «Heat deformed the plastic». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/#m1)

2) (of a body part) To grow or be made into an unusual shape, for example by illness or injury. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In science lessons on forces and materials, pupils test how springs and modelling clay deform when pushed or pulled; elastic materials go back to their shape, plastic ones stay deformed. In geography, rock layers deform into folds when continents push together, forming mountains. Phrases: «deform under pressure», «permanently deformed», «deformed by heat».

### examples

- The plastic bottle deformed in the hot car. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/#x1)
- Squeezing the ball deforms it, but it springs back. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/#x2)
- The bridge was built not to deform under heavy lorries. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/#x3)
- Rocks deform into folds when plates push together. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/#x4)
- The clay deforms easily when you press it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/#x5)
- Too much weight will deform the shelf. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/#x6)

### note

Noun: «deformation» (in science) and «deformity» (an unusual body shape). Calling a person «deformed» is hurtful; say they have a disability or a particular condition. In science, «elastic deformation» goes back; «plastic deformation» stays.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «deform» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deform/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.