n.
Pronunciation: ' dis- ˌ ko ̇ rd
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English descorde, discord, from Anglo-French descorde, from Latin discordia, from discord-, discors
Date: 13th century
1 a : lack of agreement or harmony (as between persons, things, or ideas) b : active quarreling or conflict resulting from discord among persons or factions : STRIFE
2 a (1) : a combination of musical sounds that strikes the ear harshly (2) : DISSONANCE b : a harsh or unpleasant sound
synonyms DISCORD , STRIFE , CONFLICT , CONTENTION , DISSENSION , VARIANCE mean a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony. DISCORD implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism <a political party long racked by discord >. STRIFE emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved <during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife >. CONFLICT usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires <the conflict of freedom and responsibility>. CONTENTION applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy <several points of contention about the new zoning law>. DISSENSION implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions <religious dissension threatened to split the colony>. VARIANCE implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest <cultural variances that work against a national identity>.