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

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

With the vast machinery of the Justice Department at his disposal, Gaetz could create a living hell for everyone against whom Trump holds a grudge, subjecting them to arrest and pretrial detention, even if the bogus charges later fizzle out in the court.

From Slate

He said he would sign an executive order that directs every cabinet secretary and agency head to “use every tool and authority at their disposal” to defeat inflation and to bring consumer prices down.

From BBC

Pritzker, Polis and others like Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., have struck a defiant tone since Trump was elected president, promising to use all legal means at their disposal to protect their states against federal policies they deem harmful and unconstitutional.

From Salon

But you have to wonder what "border czar" Homan, who claims he will have the military at his disposal, means when he says that governors of sanctuary states have to "get the hell out of the way," and that if they don't, "we may have to double the number of agents we send to New York City."

From Salon

Related Words

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