dis|lo|ca|tion /d I sləke I ʃ ə n/ (dislocations ) N‑VAR Dislocation is a situation in which something such as a system, process, or way of life is greatly disturbed or prevented from continuing as normal. □ [+ of ] Millions of refugees have suffered a total dislocation of their lives.
dis|lodge /d I slɒ dʒ/ (dislodges , dislodging , dislodged )
1 VERB To dislodge something means to remove it from where it was fixed or held. □ [V n + from ] Rainfall had dislodged debris from the slopes of the volcano. [Also V n]
2 VERB To dislodge a person from a position or job means to remove them from it. □ [V n] He may challenge the Prime Minister even if he decides he cannot dislodge her this time.
dis|loy|al /d I slɔ I əl/ ADJ Someone who is disloyal to their friends, family, or country does not support them or does things that could harm them. □ [+ to ] She was so disloyal to her deputy she made his position untenable.
dis|loy|al|ty /d I slɔ I əlti/ N‑UNCOUNT Disloyalty is disloyal behaviour. □ Charges had already been made against certain officials suspected of disloyalty. [Also + to ]
dis|mal /d I zm ə l/
1 ADJ Something that is dismal is bad in a sad or depressing way. □ It was a dismal failure. ● dis|mal|ly ADV □ He failed dismally in his opening match.
2 ADJ Something that is dismal is sad and depressing, especially in appearance. □ The main part of the hospital is pretty dismal but the children's ward is really lively. WORD HISTORY dismal
In medieval times, dismal (from Latin dies mali , meaning 'evil days') was the name given to the 24 days of the year (two in each month) that were believed to be unlucky.
dis|man|tle /d I smæ nt ə l/ (dismantles , dismantling , dismantled )
1 VERB If you dismantle a machine or structure, you carefully separate it into its different parts. □ [V n] He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.
2 VERB To dismantle an organization or system means to cause it to stop functioning by gradually reducing its power or purpose. □ [V n] Public services of all kinds are being dismantled.
dis|may /d I sme I / (dismays , dismaying , dismayed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Dismay is a strong feeling of fear, worry, or sadness that is caused by something unpleasant and unexpected. [FORMAL ] □ Local councillors have reacted with dismay and indignation.
2 VERB If you are dismayed by something, it makes you feel afraid, worried, or sad. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] The committee was dismayed by what it had been told. □ [V n] The thought that she was crying dismayed him. ● dis|mayed ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , ADJ to-inf/that] □ [+ at ] He was dismayed at the cynicism of the youngsters.
dis|mem|ber /d I sme mbə r / (dismembers , dismembering , dismembered )
1 VERB To dismember the body of a dead person or animal means to cut or pull it into pieces. □ [V n] He then dismembered her, hiding parts of her body in the cellar.
2 VERB To dismember a country or organization means to break it up into smaller parts. □ [V n] …Hitler's plans to occupy and dismember Czechoslovakia.
dis|mem|ber|ment /d I sme mbə r mənt/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Dismemberment is the cutting or pulling into pieces of a body.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Dismemberment is the breaking up into smaller parts of a country or organization. □ …the case for dismemberment or even abolition of the BBC.
dis|miss ◆◇◇ /d I sm I s/ (dismisses , dismissing , dismissed )
1 VERB If you dismiss something, you decide or say that it is not important enough for you to think about or consider. □ [V n + as ] Mr Wakeham dismissed the reports as speculation. □ [V n] I would certainly dismiss any allegations of impropriety by the Labour Party.
2 VERB If you dismiss something from your mind, you stop thinking about it. □ [V n + from ] I dismissed him from my mind. □ [V n] 'It's been a lovely day,' she said, dismissing the episode.
3 VERB When an employer dismisses an employee, the employer tells the employee that they are no longer needed to do the job that they have been doing. □ [V n] …the power to dismiss civil servants who refuse to work.
4 VERB If you are dismissed by someone in authority, they tell you that you can go away from them. □ [be V -ed] Two more witnesses were called, heard and dismissed. [Also V n]
5 VERB When a judge dismisses a case against someone, he or she formally states that there is no need for a trial, usually because there is not enough evidence for the case to continue. □ [V n] The High Court judge dismissed the claim. □ [have n V -ed] …their attempt to have the case against them dismissed.
dis|mis|sal /d I sm I s ə l/ (dismissals )
1 N‑VAR [oft with poss] When an employee is dismissed from their job, you can refer to their dismissal . □ …Mr Low's dismissal from his post at the head of the commission.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Dismissal of something means deciding or saying that it is not important. □ [+ of ] …their high-handed dismissal of public opinion.
dis|miss|ive /d I sm I s I v/ ADJ If you are dismissive of someone or something, you say or show that you think they are not important or have no value. □ [+ of ] Mr Jones was dismissive of the report, saying it was riddled with inaccuracies. ● dis|miss|ive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ 'Forget it,' he replied dismissively.