defuse means to remove the fuse from (e.g. a bomb). Lexicurio rates it Distinctive — a strength score of 67 out of 100.
defuse is pronounced /diːˈfjuːz/.
Etymology
Compare diffuse.
verb
- To remove the fuse from (e.g. a bomb).“Shepard: I wear a lot of hats, Mr. Vargas. Some days I shut down criminals. Some days I defuse nukes. Some days I like to enjoy private vices. You understand me?”
- To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile.“The diplomats are trying to defuse the escalating crisis.”
- To disorder; to make shapeless.“If but as well I other accents borrow / That can my speech defuse,”