də̇ˈstərbən(t)s, -tə̄b-, -təib- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English destourbaunce, disturbaunce, from Old French destorbance, destourbance, from destorber, destourber + -ance
1. : the act or process of disturbing or the state of being disturbed
2.
a. : an interruption of a state of peace or quiet : an agitating or agitation especially of the mind or feelings
understandable that the awkward age should be for the girl a period of painful disturbance — H.M.Parshley
b. : the hindering or disquieting of a person in the lawful and peaceable enjoyment of his right
the disturbance of an easement
c. : an interference with a planned, ordered, or regular procedure, state, or habit : interruption
hated the disturbance of his privacy
the disturbance of his routine always made him grouchy
: a moving out of place
the disturbance of his papers
: alteration
an obesity related to endocrine disturbances
some basic disturbance of the body's chemistry — G.W.Gray b. 1886
also : commotion
looked out of the window to see what the disturbance was all about
: derangement
a certain appalling disturbance in the body politic
market disturbances to which the less integrated and smaller business enterprises frequently find it difficult or even impossible to adjust — A.D.H.Kaplan
the large-scale and national disturbances which so disrupted affairs — Collier's Year Book
d. : a movement of the earth's crust (as in crustal crumpling to form a mountain range) : diastrophism ; also : the result of such movement
e. : a local variation from the average or normal wind conditions ; especially : a cyclone or tornado
f. : abnormal variation from a mental or emotional norm
the disturbed personality is not always aware of the disturbance