Fault , n.
1. (Elec.) A defective point in an electric circuit due to a crossing of the parts of the
conductor, or to contact with another conductor or the earth, or
to a break in the circuit.
2. (Geol. &
Mining) A dislocation caused by a slipping of rock masses along a plane of facture; also, the dislocated structure
resulting from such
slipping.
The surface along which the dislocated masses have moved is called the fault plane. When this plane is
vertical, the fault is a vertical fault; when its inclination is such that the
present relative position of the two masses could have been produced by the sliding down, along the fault plane, of the
mass on its
upper side, the fault is
a normal, or gravity, fault. When the fault plane is so inclined that the mass on its upper side has moved up relatively, the fault is
then called a reverse (or reversed), thrust, or overthrust,
fault. If no vertical displacement has resulted,
the fault is then called a
horizontal fault.
The linear extent of the
dislocation measured
on the fault plane and in the direction of movement is the displacement; the vertical displacement is the throw; the horizontal displacement is the heave. The direction of the line of intersection of the fault
plane with a horizontal plane is the
trend of the fault. A fault is a strike fault when its trend coincides approximately with the strike of
associated strata (i.e., the line of intersection of the plane of
the strata with a horizontal plane); it is a dip fault when its trend is at right angles to the strike; an oblique fault when its trend is oblique to the strike. Oblique faults and dip faults are sometimes called cross
faults. A series of closely associated parallel
faults are sometimes called
step faults and sometimes distributive faults.
Fault , v. i. To err; to blunder, to commit a fault; to do wrong. [Obs.]
If after Samuel's death the people had asked of God a king, they had not faulted.
Latimer.
Fault (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faulted;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Faulting.]
1. To charge with a fault;
to accuse; to find fault
with; to blame. [Obs.]
For that I will not fault thee.
Old Song.
2. (Geol.) To interrupt the continuity of (rock strata) by displacement along a plane
of fracture; -- chiefly used in the p. p.; as, the coal
beds are badly
faulted.
Fault (?), n. [OE.
faut, faute, F. faute (cf. It., Sp., & Pg. falta), fr. a verb meaning to want, fail, freq., fr. L.
fallere to deceive. See Fail, and cf. Default.]
1. Defect; want; lack; default.
One, it pleases me, for fault of a
better, to call my friend.
Shak.
2. Anything that fails, that is wanting, or that impairs excellence; a failing; a defect; a blemish.
As patches set upon a little
breach
Discredit more in hiding of the
fault.
Shak.
3. A moral failing; a defect or dereliction from duty; a deviation from propriety; an offense less serious than a crime.
4. (Geol. & Mining)
(a) A dislocation of the strata of
the vein. (b) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam; as, slate fault, dirt fault, etc. Raymond.
5. (Hunting) A lost scent;
act of losing the scent.
Ceasing their clamorous cry till they
have singled,
With much ado, the
cold fault cleary out.
Shak. 6.
(Tennis) Failure to serve the ball into the
proper court.
At fault, unable to find the scent and continue chase; hence, in trouble or embarrassment, and unable to proceed; puzzled; thrown off the track. -- To find fault, to find reason for blaming or complaining; to express dissatisfaction; to complain; -- followed by with before the thing complained of; but formerly by at. "Matter to find fault
at." Robynson (More's Utopia).
Syn. -- -- Error; blemish; defect; imperfection; weakness; blunder; failing; vice. -- Fault, Failing,
Defect, Foible. A fault is positive, something morally wrong; a failing is negative, some weakness or falling short in a man's character, disposition, or habits; a defect is also negative, and as applied to character is the absence of anything which is necessary to its completeness or perfection; a foible is a less important weakness, which we overlook or smile at. A man may have
many failings, and yet commit but few faults; or his faults and failings may be few, while
his foibles are obvious to all. The faults of a friend are often palliated or explained away into mere defects, and the defects or foibles of an enemy exaggerated into
faults. "I have
failings in common with every human being, besides my own peculiar faults; but of avarice I have generally held myself guiltless." Fox. "Presumption and self-applause are the foibles of mankind."
Waterland.
Hear it pronounced