DISORDER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does disorder mean? 

• DISORDER (noun)
  The noun DISORDER has 3 senses:

1. a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

2. a condition in which things are not in their expected places

3. a disturbance of the peace or of public order

  Familiarity information: DISORDER used as a noun is uncommon.

• DISORDER (verb)
  The verb DISORDER has 2 senses:

1. disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

2. bring disorder to

  Familiarity information: DISORDER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISORDER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

disorder; upset

Context example:

everyone gets stomach upsets from time to time

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"):

dysuria (painful or difficult urination)

failure (loss of ability to function normally)

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

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

hyperactivity (a condition characterized by excessive restlessness and movement)

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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)

bladder disorder (a disorder of the urinary bladder)

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

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)

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

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

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

degenerative disorder (condition leading to progressive loss of function)

dysaphia (a disorder in the sense of touch)

dysphagia (condition in which swallowing is difficult or painful)

eating disorder (a disorder of the normal eating routine)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A condition in which things are not in their expected places

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

disorder; disorderliness

Context example:

the files are in complete disorder

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)

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

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

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

untidiness (the condition of being untidy)

Antonym:

order (a condition of regular or proper arrangement)

Derivation:

disorder (bring disorder to)

Sense 3

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"):

instability (an unstable order)

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

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

discord; strife (lack of agreement or harmony)

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

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

confusion (disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably)

disorderliness; roughness; rowdiness; rowdyism (rowdy behavior)

Antonym:

order (established customary state (especially of society))

• DISORDER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they disorder    ... he / she / it disorders   
Past simple: disordered   
Past participle: disordered   
-ing form: disordering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

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

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bring disorder to

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

disarray; disorder

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)

 Context examples 

A field of human genetics which entails the reliable prediction of certain human disorders as a function of the lineage and/or genetic makeup of any two parents or potential parents.

(Medical Genetics, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The picture faded, and before his eyes stretched the disorder of his squalid room.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and management of hereditary disorders.

(Medical Genetics, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder which affects sensation in the hands.

(Acroparesthesia Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected, repeated episodes of intense fear.

(The Mechanism of Panic Attacks, NIH, US)

All were considered at high risk of developing peanut allergy because they already had egg allergy and/or severe eczema, an allergic skin disorder.

(Peanut Consumption in Infancy Lowers Peanut Allergy, NIH)

An autosomal recessive disorder characterized by defective absorption of dietary fat, cholesterol and fat-soluble vitamins.

(Abetalipoproteinemia, NCI Thesaurus)

The room was in a state of wild disorder, the furniture being all swept to one side, and one chair lying on its back in the centre.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A very rare bone disorder characterized by thickening of the cortex in a linear pattern.

(Melorheostosis, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder of the skin in which oil glands and hair glands become inflamed.

(Acne, NCI Dictionary)