disturb
pronunciation
How to pronounce disturb in British English:
UK [dɪˈstɜːb]
How to pronounce disturb in American English:
US [dɪˈstɜːrb]
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- Verb:
- move deeply
- change the arrangement or position of
- tamper with
- destroy the peace or tranquility of
- damage as if by shaking or jarring
Word Origin
- disturb
- disturb: see trouble
- disturb (v.)
- c. 1300, "to stop or hinder," from Old French destorber (Old North French distourber) and directly from Latin disturbare "throw into disorder," from dis- "completely" (see dis-) + turbare "to disorder, disturb," from turba "turmoil" (see turbid). Meaning "to frighten" is late 13c.; that of "to stir up, agitate" is c. 1300. Related: Disturbed; disturbing; disturbingly. Middle English also had distourbler (n.) "one who disturbs or incites" (late 14c.).
Example
- 1. She dislikes you to disturb her so often .
- 2. The white house is determined that nothing should disturb it .
- 3. Loud noises from ships can disturb whales .
- 4. He could do nothing to disturb them .
- 5. The brainwaves are thought be a sign that the mind is hard at work screening out the whine of sirens , the roar of traffic , the banging of doors and other noises that disturb sleep .