disposal

¹

[ dih-spoh-zuhl ]

noun

1. an act or instance of disposing; arrangement:

   the disposal of the troops.

2. a disposing of or getting rid of something:

   the disposal of waste material.

3. a disposing or allotting of, as by gift or sale; bestowal or assignment:

   She left no will to indicate the disposal of her possessions.

4. power or right to dispose of a thing; control:

   left at his disposal.

   Synonyms: management, direction, command

disposal

²

[ dih-spoh-zuhl ]

noun

1. an electrical device in the drain of a sink, for grinding up garbage to be washed down the drain.

disposal

/ dɪˈspəʊzəl /

noun

1. the act or means of getting rid of something
2. placement or arrangement in a particular order
3. a specific method of tending to matters, as in business
4. the act or process of transferring something to or providing something for another
5. the power or opportunity to make use of someone or something (esp in the phrase at one's disposal )
6. a means of destroying waste products, as by grinding into particles

Word History and Origins

Origin of disposal¹

First recorded in 1620–30; dispose + -al ²

Origin of disposal²

Short for garbage-disposal; disposal ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see put at someone's disposal .

Example Sentences

Trying to treat the biosolids before disposal is a very expensive prospect, Scott said.

From Science Daily

The process, however, poses notable tradeoffs when it comes to energy use, disposal of water that has salt, and cost for low-income areas.

From Science Daily

Yet governments and corporations are increasingly turning to them to offset emissions, rather than reducing fossil fuel use or developing more permanent CO2 disposal options.

From Science Daily

Cells have a waste disposal system to clear out defective molecules, and this protective mechanism was activated in cells lacking USP39.

From Science Daily

But the mass production of cheap products has come under criticism due to concerns about the impact of their shipping and disposal on the environment.

From BBC

Related Words

• clearance
• demolition
• destruction
• disposition
• dumping
• removal
• transfer