disturbance

[dih-stur-buhns]

noun

1. the act of disturbing. disturbing.

2. the state of being disturbed. disturbed.

   Synonyms: confusion, perturbation

3. an instance of this; commotion.

   Antonyms: order

4. something that disturbs.

5. an outbreak of disorder; a breach of public peace.

   Political disturbances shook the city.

   Synonyms: riot, tumult, confusion

6. Meteorology.,  any cyclonic storm or low-pressure area, usually a small one.

7. Geology.,  a crustal movement of moderate intensity, somewhat restricted in area.

disturbance

/ dɪˈstɜːbəns /

noun

1. the act of disturbing or the state of being disturbed

2. an interruption or intrusion

3. an unruly outburst or tumult

4. law an interference with another's rights

5. geology

   1. a minor movement of the earth causing a small earthquake

   2. a minor mountain-building event

6. meteorol a small depression

7. psychiatry a mental or emotional disorder

Other Word Forms

• nondisturbance noun
• predisturbance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disturbance¹

1250–1300; Middle English disto ( u ) rbance < Anglo-French, Old French. See disturb, -ance

Synonym Study

See agitation. See disorder.

Example Sentences

Glenn and his dog had been kicked out of the Bank of Venice restaurant for causing a disturbance.

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However, the technology is largely restricted to a research environment for now, as qubits are sensitive to environmental disturbances, which can result in unacceptably high error rates.

Read more on Barron's

When VIX shot higher, it caused a severe disturbance in the construct of volatility derivatives.

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However, it also faces limitations, as qubits are sensitive to disturbances in the environment, which can result in unacceptably high error rates.

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Even the BofA analysts acknowledged that quantum computers so far have been “noisy,” meaning there are “disturbances or inaccuracies that affect the qubits” and prevent the computations from taking place in the proper way.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• brawl 
• confusion 
• disorder 
• disruption 
• eruption 
• explosion 
• fracas 
• interruption 
• riot 
• shock 
• storm 
• tremor 
• turmoil 
• upheaval 
• uprising 
• violence