/dɪ'fɔ:lt; dɪ`fɔlt/
n
1 [U] (esp law 尤用于法律) failure to do sth, esp to pay a debt or appear in court 不做某事; （尤指）不还债, 不出庭.
2 (idm 习语) by de`fault because the other party, team, etc does not appear 因对方、他队等未出场
*win a case/a game by default 因对方未出席[未出场]而赢得诉讼[比赛]. in default of sth/sb (fml 文) because or in case sth/sb is absent 因某物[某人]未在场; 在无某物[某人]时
*He was acquitted in default of strong evidence of his guilt. 因无确凿证据而判他无罪.
* The committee will not meet in default of a chairman. 没有主席委员会就不开会.

/dɪ'fɔ:lt; dɪ`fɔlt/
v
(a) [I] fail to do what one is supposed to do (eg to appear in a lawcourt) 未做应做的事（如出庭）; 不履行; 不到场; 不出庭
*A party to the contract defaulted. 订契约的一方未到场.
(b) [I, Ipr] ~ (on sth) fail to pay (a debt, etc) 未付（债等）
*default on hire purchase payments 未付应分期付的款.