disturbance
nounAU, UK /dɪˈstɜː.bəns/ · CA, US /dɪˈstɜɹ.bəns/
Etymology From Middle English disturbaunce, from Old French destorbance, destourbance, from destourber (“disturb”), from Latin disturbō. By surface analysis, disturb + -ance.
1
The act of disturbing, being disturbed.
2
Something that disturbs.
- That guy causes a lot of trouble, you know, he’s such a disturbance.
3
A noisy commotion that causes a hubbub or interruption.
4
An interruption of that which is normal or regular.
- Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force.2012 January 23, Donald Worster, “A Drier and Hotter Future”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2012, page 70:
- Blue No. 1 and yellow No. 6 may also be toxic to some human cells. And as little as 1 milligram of yellow dye No. 5 may cause irritability, restlessness and sleep disturbances for sensitive children.2025 March 29, Kristen Rogers, “Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here’s what you can do now”, in CNN:
5
Human sciences, Psychology, Sciences A serious mental imbalance or illness.