noun
disturbance
dih-STUR-buhns
noun
1
An interruption of calm or normal order, often noisy or unsettling.
"Police were called to a disturbance outside the bar."
2
A state of mental or emotional trouble.
"He has a history of emotional disturbance."
How to Use Disturbance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn interruption, commotion, or upset — of peace, order, or someone's mental state.
Common pairings
public disturbance
cause a disturbance
emotional disturbance
Word Forms
disturbances plural
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Police were called to a _____ outside the bar.
Etymology
From Old French destorbance, from disturb, following the same Latin root disturbare.