failure
/ˈfeɪljə(r)/noun
mass noun
1
- lack of success失败：
an economic policy that is doomed to failure
注定要失败的经济政策
count noun the failures of his policies.他的政策的失败。
1.1
- count noun an unsuccessful person, enterprise, or thing失败的人（或企业、事物）：
bad weather had resulted in crop failures.
恶劣天气造成了庄稼歉收。
2
- the omission of expected or required action未做到; 未履行：
their failure to comply with the basic rules.
他们没有遵守基本规则。
2.1
- count noun a lack or deficiency of a desirable quality缺乏, 不足：
a failure of imagination.
缺乏想像力。
3
- the action or state of not functioning故障, 失灵; 衰退; 衰竭：
symptoms of heart failure
心脏衰竭的症状
count noun a chance engine failure.发动机的偶然失灵。
3.1
- count noun a sudden cessation of power突然断电。
3.2
- count noun the collapse of a business公司倒闭。
词源
mid 17th cent. （originally as failer, in the senses 'non-occurrence' and 'cessation of supply'）： from Anglo-Norman French failer for Old French faillir （see FAIL）.