De*face" (d&esl;*fās"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defaced (-fāst"); p. pr. & vb. n. Defacing.] [OE. defacen to disfigure, efface, OF. desfacier; L. dis- + facies face. See Face, and cf. Efface.] 1. To destroy or mar the face or external appearance of; to disfigure; to injure, spoil, or mar, by effacing or obliterating important features or portions of; as, to deface a monument; to deface an edifice; to deface writing; to deface a note, deed, or bond; to deface a record. "This high face defaced." Emerson.

So by false learning is good sense defaced.

2. [Cf. F. défaire.] To destroy; to make null. [Obs.]

[Profane scoffing] doth . . . deface the reverence of religion.

For all his power was utterly defaste [defaced].

Syn. -- See Efface.

• To vandalize something in a conspicuous manner; damaging someone else's property so as to maximize the visibility.