Search Result for "disturbance": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (7)

1. activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption;
- Example: "the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation and emotional upset";
- Example: "he looked around for the source of the disturbance"
- Example: "there was a disturbance of neural function"
[syn: perturbation, disturbance]

2. an unhappy and worried mental state;
- Example: "there was too much anger and disturbance"
- Example: "she didn't realize the upset she caused me"
[syn: disturbance, perturbation, upset]

3. a disorderly outburst or tumult;
- Example: "they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused"
[syn: disturbance, disruption, commotion, flutter, hurly burly, to-do, hoo-ha, hoo-hah, kerfuffle]

4. a noisy fight;
[syn: affray, disturbance, fray, ruffle]

5. the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion;

6. (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness;
[syn: mental disorder, mental disturbance, disturbance, psychological disorder, folie]

7. electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication;
[syn: noise, interference, disturbance]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Disturbance \Dis*turb"ance\, n. [OF. destorbance.]
   1. An interruption of a state of peace or quiet; derangement
      of the regular course of things; disquiet; disorder; as, a
      disturbance of religious exercises; a disturbance of the
      galvanic current.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Confusion of the mind; agitation of the feelings;
      perplexity; uneasiness.
      [1913 Webster]

            Any man . . . in a state of disturbance and
            irritation.                           --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Violent agitation in the body politic; public commotion;
      tumult.
      [1913 Webster]

            The disturbance was made to support a general
            accusation against the province.      --Bancroft.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Law) The hindering or disquieting of a person in the
      lawful and peaceable enjoyment of his right; the
      interruption of a right; as, the disturbance of a
      franchise, of common, of ways, and the like. --Blackstone.

   Syn: Tumult; brawl; commotion; turmoil; uproar; hubbub;
        disorder; derangement; confusion; agitation;
        perturbation; annoyance.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

disturbance
    n 1: activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption;
         "the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation
         and emotional upset"; "he looked around for the source of
         the disturbance"; "there was a disturbance of neural
         function" [syn: perturbation, disturbance]
    2: an unhappy and worried mental state; "there was too much
       anger and disturbance"; "she didn't realize the upset she
       caused me" [syn: disturbance, perturbation, upset]
    3: a disorderly outburst or tumult; "they were amazed by the
       furious disturbance they had caused" [syn: disturbance,
       disruption, commotion, flutter, hurly burly, to-do,
       hoo-ha, hoo-hah, kerfuffle]
    4: a noisy fight [syn: affray, disturbance, fray,
       ruffle]
    5: the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something
       in motion
    6: (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion;
       a more neutral term than mental illness [syn: mental
       disorder, mental disturbance, disturbance,
       psychological disorder, folie]
    7: electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb
       communication [syn: noise, interference, disturbance]