disturbance
noun
- temporary change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem
- change to an archaeological site due to events which occurred after the site was laid down
- anything which causes the disruption of otherwise "normal" state of affairs
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /dɪˈstɜː.bəns/ / [dɪˈstɜːbn̩s] / /dɪˈstɜɹ.bəns/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English disturbaunce, from Old French destorbance, destourbance, from destourber (“disturb”), from Latin disturbō. By surface analysis, disturb + -ance.
- The act of disturbing, being disturbed.
- Something that disturbs.
“That guy causes a lot of trouble, you know, he’s such a disturbance.”
- A noisy commotion that causes a hubbub or interruption.
- An interruption of that which is normal or regular.
“Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force.”
“Blue No. 1 and yellow No. 6 may also be toxic to some human cells. And as little as 1 milligram of yellow dye No. 5 may cause irritability, restlessness and sleep disturbances for sensitive children.”
- A serious mental imbalance or illness.