Origin: Latin suffix -ance
Disturbance has 8 different meanings across 1 category:
activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
"the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation and emotional upset"
"he looked around for the source of the disturbance"
"there was a disturbance of neural function"
an unhappy and worried mental state
"there was too much anger and disturbance"
"she didn't realize the upset she caused me"
a disorderly outburst or tumult
"they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused"
a noisy fight
"The sudden disturbance in the cafeteria was just two students getting into a noisy fight over a seat."
the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion
"The sudden disturbance of the sleeping child woke up the entire house, while the gentle disturbance of the water set small ripples into motion."
(psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness
"The psychiatrist noted that his patient's recent disturbance was better understood as a temporary emotional reaction rather than chronic mental illness."
electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication
"The sudden radio disturbance caused by nearby thunderstorms made it difficult to hear the emergency broadcast clearly."
The act of disturbing, being disturbed.
"The sudden disturbance caused by the falling branch startled everyone on the path."
In plain English: A disturbance is something that interrupts peace and causes trouble.
"The loud disturbance at the party made everyone uncomfortable."
The word disturbance entered English via the Old French destorbance, which came from the Latin disturbō. It originally meant a state of being thrown out of order or peace before evolving into its modern sense.