1
- a mark, fault, or other imperfection which mars a substance or object（物质或物件的）瑕疵, 缺陷, 毛病：
flaws in paint and plaster.
油漆和石膏中的毛病。
1.1
- a fault or weakness in a person's character（人性格中的）毛病, 缺陷：
he had his flaws, but he was still a great teacher.
他性格是有缺陷, 但他仍不失为一名出色的老师。
1.2
- a mistake or shortcoming in a plan, theory, or legal document which causes it to fail or reduces its effectiveness（致使计划、理论或法律文件失败或减效的）错误, 不足, 缺陷：
there were fundamental flaws in the case for reforming local government.
为支持地方政府改革所进行的陈述存在着关键性的漏洞。
with obj.(一般作be flawed)
- (of an imperfection) mar, weaken, or invalidate (something)（缺陷）损害; 削弱; 使失效：
the computer game was flawed by poor programming.
这个电脑游戏因编程低劣而无法正常运行。
词源
Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse flaga 'slab'. The original sense was'a flake of snow', later,'a fragment or splinter', hence 'a defect or imperfection' （late 15th cent.）.