Library / English Dictionary

DISORDER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A disturbance of the peace or of public order

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("disorder" is a kind of...):

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disorder"):

anarchy; lawlessness (a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government))

instability (an unstable order)

confusion (disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably)

riot; rioting (a state of disorder involving group violence)

disorderliness; roughness; rowdiness; rowdyism (rowdy behavior)

commotion; disruption; disturbance; flutter; hoo-ha; hoo-hah; hurly burly; kerfuffle; to-do (a disorderly outburst or tumult)

discord; strife (lack of agreement or harmony)

Sturm und Drang; turbulence; upheaval (a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally))

Antonym:

order (established customary state (especially of society))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

Example:

everyone gets stomach upsets from time to time

Synonyms:

disorder; upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("disorder" is a kind of...):

physical condition; physiological condition; physiological state (the condition or state of the body or bodily functions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disorder"):

idiopathic disease; idiopathic disorder; idiopathy (any disease arising from internal dysfunctions of unknown cause)

malocclusion ((dentistry) a condition in which the opposing teeth do not mesh normally)

learning disability; learning disorder (a disorder found in children of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills)

impaction (a disorder in which feces are impacted in the lower colon)

impacted tooth; impaction (a disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally)

hyperactivity (a condition characterized by excessive restlessness and movement)

adenosis; gland disease; glandular disease; glandular disorder (a disorder of the glands of the body)

fantods (an ill-defined state of irritability and distress)

failure (loss of ability to function normally)

dysuria (painful or difficult urination)

disturbance; folie; mental disorder; mental disturbance; psychological disorder ((psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness)

metabolic disorder (a disorder or defect of metabolism)

nervous disorder; neurological disease; neurological disorder (a disorder of the nervous system)

hydrocele (disorder in which serous fluid accumulates in a body sac (especially in the scrotum))

sleep disorder (a disturbance of the normal sleep pattern)

strangulation (the condition of having respiration stopped by compression of the air passage)

haematocolpometra; hematocolpometra (accumulation of blood in the vagina and uterus)

haematocolpos; hematocolpos (accumulation of menstrual blood in the vagina (usually due to an imperforate hymen))

defect of speech; speech defect; speech disorder (a disorder of oral speech)

psilosis; sprue; tropical sprue (a chronic disorder that occurs in tropical and non-tropical forms and in both children and adults; nutrients are not absorbed; symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation)

immunological disorder (a disorder of the immune system)

functional disorder (disorder showing symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified)

organic disorder (disorder caused by a detectable physiological or structural change in an organ)

abocclusion (the condition in which the upper teeth do not touch the lower teeth when biting)

abruptio placentae (a disorder of pregnancy in which the placenta prematurely separates from the wall of the uterus)

achlorhydria (an abnormal deficiency or absence of free hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice; often associated with severe anemias and cancer of the stomach)

acholia; cholestasis (a condition in which little or no bile is secreted or the flow of bile into the digestive tract is obstructed)

achylia; achylia gastrica (absence of gastric juices (partial or complete))

acute brain disorder; acute organic brain syndrome (any disorder (as sudden confusion or disorientation) in an otherwise normal person that is due to reversible (temporary) impairment of brain tissues (as by head injuries or drugs or infection))

ailment; complaint; ill (an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining)

dysphagia (condition in which swallowing is difficult or painful)

dysosmia; olfactory impairment; parosamia (a disorder in the sense of smell)

dysaphia (a disorder in the sense of touch)

degenerative disorder (condition leading to progressive loss of function)

colpoxerosis (a condition in which the vagina is unusually dry)

choking (a condition caused by blocking the airways to the lungs (as with food or swelling of the larynx))

cheilosis; perleche (a disorder of the lips marked by scaling and fissures at the corners of the mouth; caused by a deficiency of riboflavin)

celiac disease (a disorder in children and adults; inability to tolerate wheat protein (gluten); symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation; often accompanied by lactose intolerance)

cardiovascular disease (a disease of the heart or blood vessels)

bladder disorder (a disorder of the urinary bladder)

eating disorder (a disorder of the normal eating routine)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A condition in which things are not in their expected places

Example:

the files are in complete disorder

Synonyms:

disorder; disorderliness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("disorder" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disorder"):

shambles (a condition of great disorder)

untidiness (the condition of being untidy)

mess; messiness; muss; mussiness (a state of confusion and disorderliness)

disarrangement; disorganisation; disorganization (a condition in which an orderly system has been disrupted)

clutter; fuddle; jumble; mare's nest; muddle; smother; welter (a confused multitude of things)

Antonym:

order (a condition of regular or proper arrangement)

Derivation:

disorder (bring disorder to)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bring disorder to

Synonyms:

disarray; disorder

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "disorder" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disorder"):

mess; mess up (make a mess of or create disorder in)

derange; perturb; throw out of kilter (throw into great confusion or disorder)

disarrange (disturb the arrangement of)

jumble; scramble; throw together (bring into random order)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

order (bring order to or into)

Derivation:

disorder (a condition in which things are not in their expected places)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

Example:

She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill

Synonyms:

cark; disorder; disquiet; distract; perturb; trouble; unhinge

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "disorder" is one way to...):

disturb; trouble; upset (move deeply)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disorder"):

vex; worry (disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Credits

 Context examples: 

This was possible from the disordered state of things in the household.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

NTP scientists evaluated published research on the link between traffic-related air pollution, or TRAP, and hypertensive disorders broken down by pollutant measurements of TRAP, such as particulate matter (PM2.5).

(Pregnancy hypertension risk increased by traffic-related air pollution, National Institutes of Health)

A rare disorder which affects the volar surfaces of fingers.

(Achenbach Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

Most unusual, he thought, a vision or a mirage—more likely a vision, a trick of his disordered mind.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Disturbances affecting the neurotransmitter dopamine are associated with a host of mental and neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.

(Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI identified as a potential biomarker for psychosis, National Institutes of Health)

A chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by hyperostosis, osteitis, synovitis and palmoplantar pustulosis.

(Acquired Hyperostosis Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

An autosomal dominant disorder that is the most frequent form of short-limb dwarfism.

(Achondroplasia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Cataracts in both eyes that result from the aging process, an injury, or as a manifestation of a systemic disorder.

(Acquired Bilateral Cataracts, NCI Thesaurus)

At this size, the laser can fit and function inside living tissues, with the potential to sense disease biomarkers or perhaps treat deep-brain neurological disorders, such as epilepsy.

(Tiny, biocompatible laser could function inside living tissues, National Science Foundation)

If the tumors affect both hearing nerves, it is often because of a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis.

(Acoustic Neuroma, NIH: National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders)