disorder

noun

1. 1

   Absence of order; state of not being arranged in an orderly manner.

   After playing the children left the room in disorder.

   It was a household in permanent and benevolent disorder, pervaded by the gentle thrill of religious persecution.

2. 2

   A disturbance of civic peace or of public order.

   The class was thrown into disorder when the teacher left the room

   The army tried to prevent disorder when claims the elections had been rigged grew stronger.

   The police isn't there to create disorder; the policeman is there preserve disorder.

3. 3

   A physical or mental malfunction.

   Near-synonyms: disease, illness (both often synonymous)

   Bulimia is an eating disorder.

   A very rare polymorphism in the prion protein gene recently has been identified that appears to protect against prion disease; this finding, in addition to providing greater understanding of the prionlike mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, might lead to potential treatments.

verb

1. 1

   To throw into a state of disorder.

2. 2

   To knock out of order or sequence.

Forms

plural

disorders

past tense

disordered

past participle

disordered

present participle

disordering

third person singular

disorders