dis|cern|ment /d I sɜː r nmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Discernment is the ability to judge which things of a particular kind are good and which are bad.
dis|charge (discharges , discharging , discharged ) The verb is pronounced /d I stʃɑː r dʒ/. The noun is pronounced /d I stʃɑː r dʒ/. 1 VERB When someone is discharged from hospital, prison, or one of the armed services, they are officially allowed to leave, or told that they must leave. □ [be V -ed] He has a broken nose but may be discharged today. □ [V pron-refl] Five days later Henry discharged himself from hospital. [Also V n] ● N‑VAR Discharge is also a noun. □ He was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation.
2 VERB If someone discharges their duties or responsibilities, they do everything that needs to be done in order to complete them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …the quiet competence with which he discharged his many college duties.
3 VERB If someone discharges a debt, they pay it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The goods will be sold for a fraction of their value in order to discharge the debt.
4 VERB If something is discharged from inside a place, it comes out. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed prep] The resulting salty water will be discharged at sea. □ [V n prep] The bird had trouble breathing and was discharging blood from the nostrils.
5 N‑VAR When there is a discharge of a substance, the substance comes out from inside somewhere. [FORMAL ] □ They develop a fever and a watery discharge from their eyes.
dis|ci|ple /d I sa I p ə l/ (disciples ) N‑COUNT [oft with poss] If you are someone's disciple , you are influenced by their teachings and try to follow their example. □ …a disciple of Freud.
dis|ci|pli|nar|ian /d I s I pl I neə riən/ (disciplinarians ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a disciplinarian , you mean that they believe in making people obey strict rules of behaviour and in punishing severely anyone who disobeys. □ He has a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian.
dis|ci|pli|nary /d I s I pl I nəri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Disciplinary bodies or actions are concerned with making sure that people obey rules or regulations and that they are punished if they do not. □ He will now face a disciplinary hearing for having an affair.
dis|ci|pline ◆◇◇ /d I s I pl I n/ (disciplines , disciplining , disciplined )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Discipline is the practice of making people obey rules or standards of behaviour, and punishing them when they do not. □ Order and discipline have been placed in the hands of headmasters and governing bodies.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Discipline is the quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards. □ It was that image of calm and discipline that appealed to voters.
3 N‑VAR If you refer to an activity or situation as a discipline , you mean that, in order to be successful in it, you need to behave in a strictly controlled way and obey particular rules or standards. □ The discipline of studying music can help children develop good work habits.
4 VERB If someone is disciplined for something that they have done wrong, they are punished for it. □ [be V -ed] The workman was disciplined by his company but not dismissed. □ [V n] Her husband had at last taken a share in disciplining the boy.
5 VERB If you discipline yourself to do something, you train yourself to behave and work in a strictly controlled and regular way. □ [V pron-refl to-inf] Out on the course you must discipline yourself to let go of detailed theory. □ [V pron-refl] I'm very good at disciplining myself.
6 N‑COUNT A discipline is a particular area of study, especially a subject of study in a college or university. [FORMAL ] □ We're looking for people from a wide range of disciplines.
7 → see also self-discipline COLLOCATIONS discipline NOUN
1
noun + discipline : classroom, party
adjective + discipline : fiscal, military; strict
verb + discipline : enforce, impose, instil; lack; maintain, tighten
2
adjective + discipline : physical
verb + discipline : lack; require
6
adjective + discipline : academic, scientific SYNONYMS discipline NOUN
1
punishment: I have no doubt that the man is guilty and that he deserves punishment.
penalty: The maximum penalty is up to 7 years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine.
correction: …jails and other parts of the correction system.
2
self-controclass="underline" I began to wish I'd shown more self-control.
willpower: I know I've got the willpower to do it.
restraint: They behaved with more restraint than I'd expected.
dis|ci|plined /d I s I pl I nd/ ADJ Someone who is disciplined behaves or works in a controlled way. □ For me it meant being very disciplined about how I run my life.
di sc jock|ey (disc jockeys ) in AM, also use disk jockey N‑COUNT A disc jockey is someone who plays and introduces music on the radio or at a party or nightclub.
dis|claim /d I skle I m/ (disclaims , disclaiming , disclaimed ) VERB If you disclaim knowledge of something or disclaim responsibility for something, you say that you did not know about it or are not responsible for it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] She disclaims any knowledge of her husband's business.