1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Disembodied means seeming not to be attached to or to come from anyone. □ A disembodied voice sounded from the back of the cabin.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Disembodied means separated from or existing without a body. □ …a disembodied head.
dis|em|bow|el /d I s I mbaʊ əl/ (disembowels , disembowelling , disembowelled ) in AM, use disemboweling , disemboweled VERB To disembowel a person or animal means to remove their internal organs, especially their stomach, intestines, and bowels. □ [V n] It shows a fox being disembowelled by a pack of hounds.
dis|em|pow|er /d I s I mpaʊ ə r / (disempowers , disempowering , disempowered ) VERB [oft passive] If someone or something disempowers you, they take away your power or influence. □ [be V -ed] She feels that women have been disempowered throughout history. [Also V n, V -ed]
dis|en|chant|ed /d I s I ntʃɑː nt I d, -tʃæ nt-/ ADJ If you are disenchanted with something, you are disappointed with it and no longer believe that it is good or worthwhile. □ [+ with ] I'm disenchanted with the state of British theatre at the moment.
dis|en|chant|ment /d I s I ntʃɑː ntmənt, -tʃæ nt-/ N‑UNCOUNT Disenchantment is the feeling of being disappointed with something, and no longer believing that it is good or worthwhile. □ [+ with ] There's growing disenchantment with the Government.
dis|en|fran|chise /d I s I nfræ ntʃa I z/ (disenfranchises , disenfranchising , disenfranchised ) VERB To disenfranchise a group of people means to take away their right to vote, or their right to vote for what they really want. □ [V n] Opponents say that the laws are a Republican ruse to disenfranchise entire groups of voters. □ [V -ed] …the helplessness of disenfranchised minorities.
dis|en|gage /d I s I nge I dʒ/ (disengages , disengaging , disengaged ) VERB If you disengage something, or if it disengages , it becomes separate from something which it has been attached to. □ [V n] She disengaged the film advance mechanism on the camera. □ [V pron-refl + from ] John gently disengaged himself from his sister's tearful embrace. □ [V ] His front brake cable disengaged. [Also V n from n]
dis|en|gaged /d I s I nge I dʒd/ ADJ If someone is disengaged from something, they are not as involved with it as you would expect.
dis|en|gage|ment /d I s I nge I dʒmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Disengagement is a process by which people gradually stop being involved in a conflict, activity, or organization. □ [+ from ] This policy of disengagement from the European war had its critics.
dis|en|tan|gle /d I s I ntæ ŋg ə l/ (disentangles , disentangling , disentangled )
1 VERB If you disentangle a complicated or confused situation, you make it easier to understand or manage to understand it, by clearly recognizing each separate element. □ [V n] In this new book, Harrison brilliantly disentangles complex debates. □ [V n + from ] It's impossible to disentangle the myth from reality.
2 VERB If you disentangle something or someone from an undesirable thing or situation, you separate it from that thing or remove it from that situation. □ [V n + from ] They are looking at ways to disentangle him from this major policy decision.
3 VERB If you disentangle something, you separate it from things that are twisted around it, or things that it is twisted or knotted around. □ [V n] She clawed at the bushes to disentangle herself. [Also V n from n]
dis|equi|lib|rium /d I siː kw I l I briəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Disequilibrium is a state in which things are not stable or certain, but are likely to change suddenly. [FORMAL ] □ There may be a period of disequilibrium as family members adjust to the new baby.
dis|es|tab|lish /d I s I stæ bl I ʃ/ (disestablishes , disestablishing , disestablished ) VERB To disestablish a church or religion means to take away its official status, so that it is no longer recognized as a national institution. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] It would be right to disestablish the church. ● dis|es|tab|lish|ment /d I s I stæ bl I ʃmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …Welsh Anglican disestablishment.
dis|fa|vour /d I sfe I və r / in AM, use disfavor N‑UNCOUNT [usu in/into N ] If someone or something is in disfavour , people dislike or disapprove of them. If someone or something falls into disfavour , people start to dislike or disapprove of them. [FORMAL ] □ He was in disfavour with the ruling party.
dis|fig|ure /d I sf I gə r , [AM ] -gjər/ (disfigures , disfiguring , disfigured )
1 VERB [usu passive] If someone is disfigured , their appearance is spoiled. □ [be V -ed] Many of the wounded had been badly disfigured. ● dis|fig|ured ADJ □ She tried not to look at the scarred, disfigured face.
2 VERB To disfigure an object or a place means to spoil its appearance. □ [V n] Wind turbines are large and noisy and they disfigure the landscape.
dis|fig|ure|ment /d I sf I gə r mənt, [AM ] -gjər-/ (disfigurements ) N‑VAR A disfigurement is something, for example a scar, that spoils a person's appearance. □ He had surgery to correct a facial disfigurement.
dis|gorge /d I sgɔː r dʒ/ (disgorges , disgorging , disgorged ) VERB If something disgorges its contents, it empties them out. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] The ground had opened to disgorge a boiling stream of molten lava.
dis|grace /d I sgre I s/ (disgraces , disgracing , disgraced )