defuze

verb (used with or without object), de·fuzed, de·fuz·ing.

1. defuse.

verb (used with object), de·fused, de·fus·ing.

1. to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).
2. to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing: to defuse a potentially ugly situation.

verb (used without object), de·fused, de·fus·ing.

3. to grow less dangerous; weaken.

verb (tr)

1. to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)
2. to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)

v.

1943, from de- + fuse. Related: Defused; defusing.