defuse

UK: /diːˈfjuːz/ US: /diˈfjuz/ ,(dē fyo̅o̅z′)

Inflections of 'defuse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

defuses

v 3rd person singular

defusing

v pres p

defused

v past

defused

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•fuse /diˈfyuz/   v. [ ~ + obj], -fused,-fus•ing. 

1. to remove the fuse from (a bomb).
2. to make less dangerous or tense:
   defused a tense situation.

See -fus-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•fuse  (dē fyo̅o̅z′), v., -fused, -fus•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).
2. to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing:
   to defuse a potentially ugly situation.

v.i. 

3. to grow less dangerous;
   weaken.

Also, defuze. 

• de- + fuse¹ 1940–45

de•fus′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

defuse, defuze / diːˈfjuːz/ verb (transitive)

1. to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)
2. to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)

USAGE
See note at diffuse