failfail /feɪl/ verb1[intransitiveI]COMMERCE if a business fails, it is not successful and loses so much money that it has to closeThe company failed amid charges that the chairman had stolen $17 million.
More than 10,000 companies failed with debts of more than 10 million yen.
—failed adjectiveadj [only before a noun]the failed Bank of Credit & Commerce International
2[intransitiveI] if something you try to do fails, it is not successfulA move to vote the chairman off the Bell Resources board failed.
fail to do somethingA salesman may communicate perfectly well with a customer but fail to make a sale.
—failed adjectiveadj [only before a noun]The firm collapsed after a failed bid for a rival insurer.
3[intransitiveI] if something fails to happen, it does not happen, although you expected or wanted it tofail to do somethingThe new projects have failed to gain general acceptance from the board.
If the recovery fails to cut the deficit sharply, a rise in taxes will be needed.
4[intransitiveI]MANUFACTURING if equipment or a machine fails, it stops working because there is a fault 5FARMING [intransitiveI] if crops fail, they do not grow or produce any foodThe corn harvest failed after a terrible drought.
6[intransitiveI, transitiveT] to not pass an examination, test or INSPECTIONThe railway line failed its Board of Trade inspection earlier this year.