Home British & World English disturbance

Definition of disturbance in English:

disturbance

noun

1mass noun The interruption of a settled and peaceful condition.
‘a helicopter landing can cause disturbance to residents’
- ‘I had expected a degree of disturbance and interruption as I switched over to Retirement Pension from Incapacity Benefit, and still do.’
- ‘Goliath continued, wanting no disturbance or interruption in his clarification.’
- ‘Try to find a quiet place that has no possibility of disturbance or interruption.’
- ‘However, he acknowledged that there was a high degree of disturbance for residents due to noise.’
- ‘The proposal to move the vans was to reduce disturbance to residents of the new Kiln Corner housing development.’
- ‘Teenagers who gather there at night are also being blamed by nearby residents for noise and disturbance.’
- ‘Freedom from disturbance is the condition that causes human happiness, and this is the ethical goal.’
- ‘Youths in Great Horton, Bradford, volunteered to clean up the area after residents complained about noise disturbance and litter.’
- ‘When it is observed in libraries, the purpose is to ensure peaceful atmosphere so that students can study without any disturbance.’
- ‘But at that time the club agreed to close the premises by 11.45 pm, after residents voiced their fears of extra late night noise and disturbance.’
- ‘The proposal would have a detrimental effect on the amenities of neighbouring residents due to noise and disturbance.’
- ‘This came after strong protests from West Chiswick residents over extra traffic and disturbance in the area.’
- ‘The committee received objections from two residents worried about increased traffic and potential disturbance to the resting place of bats.’
- ‘It is very rare that you encounter its residents, who never cause any fuss or disturbance.’
- ‘The youngsters volunteered to carry the stretcher - with as little disturbance as possible - in very difficult conditions.’
- ‘During the day I doubt it is a problem, but during quieter night time hours it is likely to cause disturbance to local residents.’
- ‘There are often addicts calling at all times of the day and night and a lot of noise disturbance.’
- ‘They will fine them and make them pay for the fare and deal with any disturbance.’
- ‘If confronted with a disturbance or disruption, simply cover the cage with the blanket to give the bird a feeling of security.’
disruption, distraction, interference, bother, trouble, inconvenience, upset, annoyance, irritation
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1. 1.1count noun A breakdown of peaceful and law-abiding behaviour.
  ‘the disturbances were precipitated when four men were refused bail’
  ‘The people gathered round then debated what ‘damages’ she would have to pay to the community for having caused a disturbance of the peace.’
  ‘According to Bulgarian border police, the group had caused a disturbance of the peace and were not fit to enter the country.’
  ‘The state defines unlawful assembly as a threat of ‘tumultuous disturbance of the peace.’’
  ‘A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal following a disturbance in the Ferry Inn, Stromness, on Wednesday afternoon.’
  ‘It argued that, in the absence of the pricing rules, there would be civil disturbances, blockades, and violence.’
  ‘In addition, with the more amorphously defined ‘public order’ offences, criteria of what constitutes a disturbance are situationally variable.’
  ‘Both men were charged with causing an unlawful disturbance.’
  ‘Further, an unjustifiable disturbance in family life by an arbitrary separation of child and parents would engage Article 8.’
  ‘The applicants were involved in a protest which had led to a violent disturbance.’
  ‘Allegations that her comments caused a disturbance at Bradford Magistrates Court between white and Asian youths proved to be unfounded.’
  ‘Charges vary, including unlawful assembly, causing a disturbance, and assaulting and obstructing a police officer.’
  ‘Four Italian football fans were fined by magistrates after a violent disturbance at Stansted Airport.’
  ‘The villagers captured one of the hired gunmen and dragged him off to the police station only to be arrested for causing a disturbance.’
  ‘Police detained them for causing a disturbance, although officers took their petition and passed it on.’
  ‘After all, we have been accused of causing a public disturbance, disrupting the peace.’
  ‘In such environments, the legal price that can be exacted for protest increases commensurate with the disturbance and threat that protest produces.’
  ‘A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said they were called to the disturbance and when they arrived a number of people had already left.’
  ‘The militia, it seems, managed to quell the disturbance without too much difficulty.’
  ‘Security firms do not have the legal power to deal with disturbances, they cannot physically arrest someone.’
  ‘Others said police statistics would never reflect the real amount of disturbance because residents did not report everything.’
  riot, fracas, affray, upheaval, brawl, street fight, melee, free-for-all
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2. 1.2Law Interference with rights or property.
  ‘Police said the allegations against the nine Britons still held, ranged from bodily injury to robbery or disturbance of public order.’
  ‘Authorities charged them both with trespassing, peace disturbance, and resisting arrest.’
  ‘Such construction would minimise property disturbance whilst complying with the topography of the terrain.’
  ‘Compensation can also be claimed in respect of damage to the remaining property and disturbance.’
  ‘Twelve Britons are due to appear in court later today after being arrested for public order offences following yesterday's disturbance.’
2A state in which normal mental or physical functioning is disrupted.
‘children with learning difficulty and personality disturbance’
- ‘The assumption is that, well these people had a mental disturbance or mental illness, that's why they did what they did.’
- ‘Their personal problems and mental disturbances did not disturb brisk activities.’
- ‘Those children lucky enough to survive the disease may have persistent mental or neurological disturbances.’
- ‘Did you ever see any sign of a mental disturbance with him?’
- ‘A diagnosis is usually made based on the description of the mental disturbance, risk factors and family history.’
- ‘Some affected people suffer mental disturbances such as delirium, hallucinations, and even psychotic behaviour.’
- ‘The installation of this phone booth is definitely creating physical danger and mental disturbance to local as well as visiting pedestrians.’
- ‘The second group consisted of a man and a woman whose disturbances placed them at physical risk.’
- ‘This is due to a disturbance of immune function resulting in the body not recognising its own tissue as its own and hence leading to reactions against it.’
- ‘Some patients may become unable to breathe sufficiently after severe infection or other disturbance of lung function.’
- ‘Psychiatrists have a social role in controlling mental disturbance through the Mental Health Act.’
- ‘Their skin also becomes discoloured and their personality becomes morbid due to the mental disturbance that accompanies the condition.’
- ‘At times the disturbance was so severe as to bring him to the edge of madness.’
- ‘But physical disturbances from outside the embryo can have the same effect.’
- ‘The basic abnormality is a disturbance in normal function in the smooth-muscled part of the esophagus.’
- ‘This can cause ammonia accumulation due to a disturbance in mitochondrial function in the liver that inhibits the urea cycle.’
- ‘Out of the love for her work, Ye Sha adheres to the night shift, regardless of the disturbance from her chronic headache.’
- ‘Sleep disturbance, seasonal affective disorders and the nocturnal polyuria of diabetes are related to abnormal biorhythm.’
- ‘Other reports have cited severe and uncontrollable pain or bleeding, major injury with shock, impending birth, and uncontrollable mental disturbance.’
- ‘Emotions were simply physiological disturbances that could become attached over time to a wide range of different stimuli.’
trouble, perturbation, distress, concern, worry, upset
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