1. (

• perturbation ,
• disturbance

) activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption; "the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation and emotional upset"; "he looked around for the source of the disturbance"; "there was a disturbance of neural function" ;

2. (

• disturbance ,
• perturbation ,
• upset

) an unhappy and worried mental state; "there was too much anger and disturbance"; "she didn't realize the upset she caused me" ;

3. (

• disturbance ,
• disruption ,
• commotion ,
• flutter ,
• hurly_burly ,
• to-do ,
• hoo-ha ,
• hoo-hah ,
• kerfuffle

) a disorderly outburst or tumult; "they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused" ;

4. (

• affray ,
• disturbance ,
• fray ,
• ruffle

) a noisy fight ;

5. (

• disturbance

) the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion ;

6. (

• mental_disorder ,
• mental_disturbance ,
• disturbance ,
• psychological_disorder ,
• folie

) (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness ;

7. (

• noise ,
• interference ,
• disturbance ,

) electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication ;