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Definition of disturbance noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

disturbance

noun
 
/dɪˈstɜːbəns/
 
/dɪˈstɜːrbəns/
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  1. [uncountable, countable, usually singular] actions that make you stop what you are doing, or that upset the normal state that something is in; the act of disturbing somebody/something or the fact of being disturbed
    • The building work is creating constant noise, dust and disturbance.
    • Their arrival had caused a disturbance in the usual pattern of events.
    • One problem is the disturbance of the local wildlife by tourists.
    Extra Examples
    • Buildings should create minimum disturbance to the environment.
    • Fish can sense disturbances in the water.
    • She moved the nest very carefully to prevent disturbance to the birds.
    • The government advocated strong action against Mussolini's disturbance of the peace.
    • The traffic causes serious disturbance to residents.
    • a place where you can work without disturbance
    • an unacceptable level of disturbance to occupiers of adjacent properties
    • disturbance from noisy lorries
    • environmental disturbances caused by roads and traffic
    • the disturbance of marine life caused by oil spillages
    • His changes to the team are meant to cause as little disturbance as possible.
    • The repairs have been carried out with minimal disturbance to local residents.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • major
    • serious
    … of disturbance
    • level
    verb + disturbance
    • cause
    • create
    • make
    preposition
    • without disturbance
    • disturbance from
    • disturbance of
    See full entry
  2. [countable, uncountable] a situation in which people behave violently, especially in a public place
    • News of the arrests provoked serious disturbances in the streets.
    • He was charged with causing a disturbance after the game.
    • The army is trained to deal with riots and civil disturbance.
    Extra Examples
    • The lockdown triggered protests and disturbances in the city.
    • He was arrested and charged with causing a disturbance in a public place.
    • Large numbers of workers involved in the disturbances have been arrested.
    • Several people were injured during a disturbance in the capital city.
    • The decision led to serious disturbances in all the country's main cities.
    • There had been violent disturbances among the prisoners.
    • Troops were brought in to put down the disturbance.
    • disturbances between members of two rival factions
    • disturbances involving members of a crowd of 550 demonstrators
    • Police had been called to a domestic disturbance.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • serious
    • violent
    • public
    verb + disturbance
    • cause
    • give rise to
    • lead to
    disturbance + verb
    • occur
    • involve somebody
    preposition
    • during a/​the disturbance
    • in a/​the disturbance
    • disturbance among
    phrases
    • a disturbance of the peace
    See full entry
  3. [countable, uncountable] a state in which a function of somebody's body or mind is not working as it normally would
    • sleep disturbances
    • heart rhythm disturbances
    • Symptoms included confusion, mood disturbance and anxiety.
    Extra Examples
    • Many patients reported sleep disturbances after taking the drug.
    • Many cancer patients experience psychological effects and mood disturbances.
    • Symptoms include gastrointestinal disturbance with diarrhoea.
    • The condition is associated with metabolic disturbance and weight gain.
    • a disturbance in liver function
    • behavioural disturbances in children
    • teenagers suffering from a kind of psychological disturbance
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • serious
    • severe
    • behavioural/​behavioral
    verb + disturbance
    • experience
    • have
    • suffer from
    preposition
    • disturbance in
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French destourbance, from destourber, from Latin disturbare, from dis- ‘utterly’ + turbare ‘disturb’.
See disturbance in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee disturbance in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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