disturb

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman distourber, from Old French destorber, from Latin disturbare, intensifying for turbare (“to throw into disorder”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪsˈtɜːb/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)b

disturb (third-person singular simple present disturbs, present participle disturbing, simple past and past participle disturbed)

1. (transitive) to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.

   The noisy ventilation disturbed me during the exam.

   The performance was disturbed twice by a ringing mobile phone.

   A school of fish disturbed the water.

2. (transitive) to divert, redirect, or alter by disturbing.

   A mudslide disturbed the course of the river.

   The trauma disturbed his mind.

   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     disturb his inmost counsels from their destined aim

3. (intransitive) to have a negative emotional impact; to cause emotional distress or confusion.

   A disturbing film that tries to explore the mind of a serial killer.

   His behaviour is very disturbing.

• disturbance

disturb

1. (obsolete) disturbance

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)