English Explanatory Dictionary

disturb

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.
  2. to divert, redirect, or alter by disturbing.
  3. to have a negative emotional impact; to cause emotional distress or confusion.
noun
  1. disturbance

Pronunciation

/dɪˈstɜːb/ /dɪˈstɝb/ en-us-disturb.ogg /ɖɪsˈʈɜ(r)b/ /ˈɖɪsʈə(r)b/

Word forms

disturb disturbs disturbing disturbed

Etymology

From Middle English destourben, from Anglo-Norman distourber and Old French destorber, from Latin disturbare, intensifying for turbare (“to throw into disorder”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)twerH-, *(s)turH- (“to rotate, swirl, twirl, move around”).

Synonyms

upset perturb unsettle agitate freak bother bring down discompose disconcert enturbulate disturb mortify put out ruffle throw off balance flurry muddle roil trouble

Related words

perturb turbation turbid turbine

Derived words

disturbability disturbable disturbance disturbative disturbed disturber disturbing disturb the peace do not disturb redisturb
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