failing

el defecto

a falta de

failing(

feyl

ihng

)

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).

noun

1. (defect)

a. el defecto

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

He has a lot of talent, but his impatience is his greatest failing.Tiene mucho talento, pero su impaciencia es su mayor defecto.

b. la falta

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

I recognize that I have my failings, but I make up for them by working hard.Reconozco que tengo mis faltas, pero las compenso trabajando mucho.

A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g. He ran through the door.).

preposition

2. (in default of)

a. a falta de

Failing another option, we'll have to build a shelter.A falta de otra opción, tendremos que construir un refugio.

An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).

adjective

3. (deteriorating)

a. debilitado

My grandfather can't read for as long now because of his failing eyesight.Mi abuelo ya no puede leer durante tanto tiempo por su vista debilitada.

failing

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).

Noun

1. (fault)

a. el defecto

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

b. el fallo

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

Regionalism used in Spain

(Spain)

c. la falla

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.

(Latin America)

with all her failingscon todos sus fallos, fallas

An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).

adjective

2. (sight, strength)

a. debilitado(a)

A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g. He ran through the door.).

preposition

3. (general)

a. a falta de

failing thaten su defecto

failing all elseen último extremo

failing [ˈfeɪlɪŋ]

preposition

a falta de

failing that, ... de no ser posible, ...

noun

(flaw) falta (f); defecto (m)

the plan has numerous failings el plan tiene muchos defectos; it's his only failing es su único punto débil

adjective

he was in failing health su salud era cada vez más débil; I had to stop work because of failing eyesight tuve que dejar de trabajar porque me fallaba la vista; we reached the top in failing light anochecía cuando llegamos a la cumbre; a failing marriage un matrimonio que anda mal

Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Examples