1 N‑VAR [oft with poss] If you refer to someone's disappearance , you are referring to the fact that nobody knows where they have gone. □ Her disappearance has baffled police.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you refer to the disappearance of an object, you are referring to the fact that it has been lost or stolen. □ [+ from ] Police are investigating the disappearance from council offices of confidential files.
3 N‑UNCOUNT The disappearance of a type of thing, person, or animal is a process in which it becomes less common and finally no longer exists. □ [+ of ] …the virtual disappearance of the red telephone box.
dis|ap|point /d I səpɔ I nt/ (disappoints , disappointing , disappointed ) VERB If things or people disappoint you, they are not as good as you had hoped, or do not do what you hoped they would do. □ [V n] She knew that she would disappoint him.
dis|ap|point|ed ◆◇◇ /d I səpɔ I nt I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ that, ADJ to-inf] If you are disappointed , you are rather sad because something has not happened or because something is not as good as you had hoped. □ [+ with ] Castle-hunters won't be disappointed with the Isle of Man. □ I was disappointed that Kluge was not there. □ I was disappointed to see the lack of coverage afforded to this event.
2 ADJ If you are disappointed in someone, you are rather sad because they have not behaved as well as you expected them to. □ [+ in ] You should have accepted that. I'm disappointed in you. SYNONYMS disappointed ADJ 1
disheartened: He was disheartened by their hostile reaction.
dissatisfied: Dissatisfied customers can return the product for a full refund.
downhearted: Max sighed, sounding even more downhearted.
dis|ap|point|ing /d I səpɔ I nt I ŋ/ ADJ Something that is disappointing is not as good or as large as you hoped it would be. □ The wine was excellent, but the food was disappointing. ● dis|ap|point|ing|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ Progress is disappointingly slow.
dis|ap|point|ment /d I səpɔ I ntmənt/ (disappointments )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Disappointment is the state of feeling disappointed. □ Despite winning the title, their last campaign ended in great disappointment. □ Book early to avoid disappointment.
2 N‑COUNT Something or someone that is a disappointment is not as good as you had hoped. □ For many, their long-awaited homecoming was a bitter disappointment.
dis|ap|prov|al /d I səpruː v ə l/ N‑UNCOUNT If you feel or show disapproval of something or someone, you feel or show that you do not approve of them. □ His action had been greeted with almost universal disapproval. [Also + of ] PRAGMATICS disapproval
In this dictionary, the label DISAPPROVAL indicates that you use the word or expression to show that you dislike the person or thing you are talking about. An example of a word with this label is infantile.
dis|ap|prove /d I səpruː v/ (disapproves , disapproving , disapproved ) VERB If you disapprove of something or someone, you feel or show that you do not like them or do not approve of them. □ [V + of ] Most people disapprove of such violent tactics. □ [V ] The Prime Minister made it clear that he disapproved.
dis|ap|prov|ing /d I səpruː v I ŋ/ ADJ A disapproving action or expression shows that you do not approve of something or someone. □ Janet gave him a disapproving look. ● dis|ap|prov|ing|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ Antonio looked at him disapprovingly.
dis|arm /d I sɑː r m/ (disarms , disarming , disarmed )
1 VERB To disarm a person or group means to take away all their weapons. □ [V n] We will agree to disarming troops and leaving their weapons at military positions.
2 VERB If a country or group disarms , it gives up the use of weapons, especially nuclear weapons. □ [V ] He argued that nations should disarm whether or not this is matched by reciprocal disarmament by others.
3 VERB If a person or their behaviour disarms you, they cause you to feel less angry, hostile, or critical towards them. □ [V n] His unease disarmed her.
dis|arma|ment /d I sɑː r məmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Disarmament is the act of reducing the number of weapons, especially nuclear weapons, that a country has. □ …the pace of nuclear disarmament.
dis|arm|ing /d I sɑː r m I ŋ/ ADJ If someone or something is disarming , they make you feel less angry or hostile. □ Leonard approached with a disarming smile. ● dis|arm|ing|ly ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] □ He is, as ever, business-like, and disarmingly honest.
dis|ar|ray /d I səre I /
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] If people or things are in disarray , they are disorganized and confused. □ The nation is in disarray following rioting led by the military.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] If things or places are in disarray , they are in a very untidy state. □ She was left lying on her side and her clothes were in disarray.
dis|as|sem|ble /d I səse mb ə l/ (disassembles , disassembling , disassembled ) VERB To disassemble something means to take it to pieces. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] You'll have to disassemble the drill.
dis|as|so|ci|ate /d I səsoʊ ʃie I t/ (disassociates , disassociating , disassociated )
1 VERB If you disassociate yourself from something or someone, you say or show that you are not connected with them, usually in order to avoid trouble or blame. □ [V pron-refl + from ] I wish to disassociate myself from this very sad decision.