Defeating the purpose?

Question

what does the term ('defeating the purpose') mean?

Answer 1

its like tryin 2 change the topic

Answer 2

The opposite of fulfilling the purpose.

If something has a purpose like a cocoon, when the butterfly is born the cocoon has fulfilled its purpose. If you interfere with it and the butterfly is not born then you have defeated the purpose of the cocoon because the purpose of the cocoon was to birth the butterfly.

Answer 3

Defeating as in like, overcoming. So "defeating the purpose" of something is like, making the purpose of the thing.. gone? If you have a boat and use it as a bed, that's defeating the purpose, because a boat is for riding on water, not for sleeping in. Do you get it? (D:)