Definition of defusing | Bee Dictionary of English

As part of Mikhail Gorbachev's overall policy of defusing Third World conflicts, Moscow has been pressuring Viet Nam to end its occupation.
Cohen was incredibly successful in defusing the tension in Amsterdam, says Hans Dijkstal, a former leader of the conservative vvd party.
The delicate business of defusing the planet's powder kegs is left to the group's local experts who transform exhaustive on-the-ground research into erudite reports and policy .

Nile dam politics: Egypt, Ethiopian officials meet
The foreign ministers of Egypt and Ethiopia met in Addis Ababa on Monday in hopes of defusing tensions over a huge dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile River. Egypt and Ethiopia began a sharp exchange ...
June 17, 2013 - Associated Press via Yahoo! News
Nile dam politics: Egyptian foreign minister in Ethiopia after uproar over dam construction
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The foreign ministers of Egypt and Ethiopia met in Addis Ababa on Monday in hopes of defusing tensions over a huge dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile River.
June 17, 2013 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune
UN: US-NKorea talks must include nuclear issues
UNITED NATIONS — A U.N. spokesman says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon believes any dialogue between the United States and North Korea should focus on the goal of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula. U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said Monday that Ban also believes inter-Korean dialogue is key to defusing tensions and ensuring peace on the peninsula.
June 17, 2013 - Boston Herald

Kofi Annan in Bangkok Post
These measures are an absolute prerequisite for defusing the tensions which are escalating every day,Annan said in a statement.
Peter Takirambudde in Reuters AlertNet
Sudan's green light for only part of the peacekeeping force is too little, too late, and is aimed only at defusing international pressure and heading off sanctions,said Peter Takirambudde, Africa director at Human Rights Watch....
Howard Stern in FOXNews
In terms of a combination of putting out fires, defusing crises, building consensus - including collective-bargaining consensus with ownership - and growing revenues and the stature of the brand, he's had not only a good year, he's had a good... David Stern http://www.google.com/url?q=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Stern&source=dictionary&usg=AFQjCNGIAMcpNLVMdBMZyP1MwrbIQwXPUw USA Today http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2006-12-21-selig-sbj-exec-of-year_x.htm%3FPOE%3DSPOISVA&source=dictionary&usg=AFQjCNFroRuFlP6w9MH36hHycnEtjGoYhg Dec 21, 2006 25932 34714 defy At this point, I don't think he's very relevant," Stern says. "People will tune out within a week. I defy you to listen. It's like a rodeo _ you know, see how long you can ride a bull? See how long you can keep listening to Imus. Time it....