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Noun: disturbance  di'stur-bun(t)s
  1. Activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
    "he looked around for the source of the disturbance"; "there was a disturbance of neural function";
    - perturbation
     
  2. An unhappy and worried mental state
    "there was too much anger and disturbance";
    - perturbation, upset
     
  3. A disorderly outburst or tumult
    "they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused";
    - disruption, commotion, flutter, hurly burly, to-do [informal], hoo-ha [informal], hoo-hah [informal], kerfuffle [Brit, informal], carry-on [Brit, informal], song and dance [Brit, informal]
     
  4. A noisy fight
    - affray, 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
    - mental disorder, mental disturbance, psychological disorder, folie
     
  7. Electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication
    - noise, interference

Derived forms: disturbances

See also: bother, fuss, hassle [informal], shindy [informal], stink [informal], trouble

Type of: activity, agitation, combat, disorder, fight, fighting, motility, motion, move, movement, scrap, trouble, upset

Encyclopedia: Disturbance