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dispensed and where medical attention is given, especially
in a hospital or school → compare PHARMACY
dis·pen·sa·tion /dɪˌspenˈseɪʃən, -pen-/ n 1 [C;U] (a case
of) permission to disobey a general rule or break a promise,
often in a religious context. A dispensation from the Church
allows people to be free from a law or promise, such as
marriage: Their marriage was annulled by a special dispensa-
tion from the Church. 2 [U] fml the act of dispensing: the
dispensation of justice 3 [C] fml a particular religious system,
especially considered as controlling human affairs during a
period: during the Christian dispensation
di·spense /dɪˈspens/ v [T] 1 [(to)] to give out to a number of
people: A judge dispenses justice. | This machine dispenses
coffee. | to dispense favours 2 to mix and give out (especially
medicines available only on PRESCRIPTION from a doctor)
dispense with sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to do without or
manage to exist without: We shall have to dispense with the
car. We can't afford it. 2 to make unnecessary: The new
computer system will dispense with the need for keeping files.
di·spens·er /dɪˈspensər/ n 1 a person who dispenses medi-
cines 2 a machine or container from which something can
be obtained, e.g. by pushing or by pressing a handle: a soap
dispenser in a public toilet | a drinks dispenser | a cash
dispenser outside a bank
dis'pensing chemist n (in Britain) a person who both
sells medicines and is trained to dispense them
di·sper·sal /dɪˈspɜːsəl||-ɜːr-/ n [U] the act of dispersing or
the fact of being dispersed: After the dispersal of the crowd,
five people were found to be hurt.
di·sperse /dɪˈspɜːs||-ɜːrs/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) scatter or
spread in different directions, so as to be no longer present:
After school the children dispersed to their homes. | The wind
dispersed the clouds. | Police used tear gas to disperse the
crowd. 2 [T] to place at different points: Groups of police
were dispersed all along the street where the Queen was to
pass.
di·sper·sion /dɪˈspɜːʃən||dɪˈspɜːrʒən/ n [U] tech dispersal:
the dispersion of light by a prism
di·spir·it·ed /dɪˈspɪrɪtɪd/ adj lit discouraged; without hope;
in low spirits → -ly adv
dis·place /dɪsˈpleɪs/ v [T] 1 to force out of the usual place:
He displaced a bone in his knee while playing football. | The
indigenous population was soon displaced by the settlers. 2 to
take the place of (as if) by pushing out; SUPPLANT
dis·placed 'person n a person who has been forced to leave
his or her country because of war or PERSECUTION; REFUGEE
dis·place·ment /dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/ n 1 [U] the act of displac-
ing or process of being displaced 2 [S] tech the weight of
water pushed aside by a ship or floating object
dis'placement acˌtivity n [C;U] an activity which replaces
someone's usual or expected behaviour, e.g. when the
expected behaviour is prevented. The person may not realize
the connection between the two: Obsessively cleaning the
house was probably a displacement activity for telling her
husband what she really felt.
di·splay¹ /dɪˈspleɪ/ v [T] 1 to arrange or spread out for
public view: to display fruit in a shop window 2 rather fml to
show (especially a feeling or quality): She displayed great
self-control when they told her the news.
display² n [C;U] an act of displaying something, or some-
thing that is displayed: a fireworks display | The goods were
on display in the shop window. | a fine display of fruit | an
impressive display of skill | a sudden display of temper
dis·please /dɪsˈpliːz/ v [T] fml to cause displeasure to; annoy:
The old lady was most displeased with/by/at the children's
noisy behaviour.
dis·plea·sure /dɪsˈpleʒər/ n [U] fml angry dislike, annoy-
ance, or disapproval: I incurred her displeasure by refusing
the invitation.
dis·port /dɪˈspɔːt||-ɔːrt/ v [I;T] fml to amuse (oneself) actively
dis·po·sa·ble /dɪˈspəʊzəbəl/ adj intended to be used once
or for a short time and then thrown away: disposable paper
cups | a disposable cigarette lighter
disˌposable 'income n [U] the amount of money left from
someone's income when they have paid their tax, their bills,
and paid for necessary things like food and housing
dis·pos·al /dɪˈspəzəl/ n [U] 1 the act of getting rid of
something; removal: waste disposal | a team of bomb dis-
posal experts 2 fml the way that people or things are
arranged: the disposal of troops along the frontier 3 at
someone's disposal able to be used freely by someone:
During their visit I put my car at their disposal. | We will use
all the means at our disposal to solve this dispute. 4 AmE for
GARBAGE DISPOSAL
dis·pose /dɪˈspəʊz/ v [T+obj+adv/prep] fml to put in place;
arrange: to dispose one's books on the shelves
dispose of sthg. phr v [T] to get rid of or destroy: The
murderer was unable to dispose of the body. | I can dispose of
your argument quite easily.
dispose sbdy. to/towards sthg. phr v [T] to give a
feeling of the stated type towards: The defendant's youth
disposed the judge to leniency.
dis·posed /dɪˈspəʊzd/ adj fml 1 [F+to-v] willing: After the way
she treated me, I didn't feel disposed to help her. → see also
INDISPOSED, WELL-DISPOSED 2 [F+to] having a tendency: She
is disposed to sudden bouts of depression. 3 [F +to] having a
feeling of the stated type towards: He was favourably/
unfavourably disposed to the proposal.
dis·po·si·tion /ˌdɪspəzɪʃən/ n 1 [C] a particular tendency
of character, behaviour etc; nature; TEMPERAMENT: He has a
cheerful disposition. 2 [C;U] fml (an) arrangement: the dispo-
sition of the troops on the battlefield 3 [C;U] law an act of
formally giving property to someone
dis·pos·sess /ˌdɪspəzes/ v [T(of)] fml to take property away
from: The rebel leaders were dispossessed of all their
property. | fighting for the rights of the dispossessed (=people
who have lost all their property or possessions) → -ion
/-ˈzeʃən/ n [U]
Dis·prin /ˈdɪsprɪn/ trademark a type of ASPIRIN, which is sold in
the form of TABLETS that you DISSOLVE in water and then
drink
dis·proof /dɪsˈpruːf/ n [U(of)] fml the act of disproving or
something (such as a fact) that disproves
dis·pro·por·tion /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːən||-ɔːr-/ n [S;U(between)] a
lack of PROPORTION; lack of proper relation between the parts:
a disproportion between their wealth and our poverty
dis·pro·por·tion·ate /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənɪt||-ɔːr-/ adj [(to)] not
in proper PROPORTION; too much or too little in relation to
something else: We spend a disproportionate amount of our
income on rent. | The reaction of the police was disproportion-
ate to the threat that the rioters presented. → -ly adv
dis·prove /dɪsˈpruːv/ v [T] to prove (something) to be false
dis·pu·ta·ble /dɪˈspjuːtəbəl, ˈdɪspjʊ-/ adj not necessarily
true; able to be questioned; DEBATABLE → opposite INDISPUT-
ABLE → -bly adv
dis·pu·ta·tion /ˌdɪspjˈteɪʃən/ n old use a speech or argu-
ment, especially a formal one made according to certain
rules of reasoning
dis·pu·ta·tious /ˌdɪspjˈteɪʃəs/ adj fml tending to argue;
ARGUMENTATIVE → -ly adv
di·spute¹ /dɪˈspjuːt/ v 1 [I;T(about, over, with)] to argue (about
something), especially angrily and for a long period: The two
governments disputed (over) the ownership of the territory. |
The question was hotly disputed in the Senate. 2 [T] to
disagree about or question the truth or correctness of: I
dispute the minister's figures - the true cost of the project is
much higher. | 'There are hundreds of cases.' 'I would dispute
that.' 3 [T] to struggle in order to gain or keep, especially in
war: The defending army disputed every inch of ground.
dispute² /dɪˈspjuːt, ˈdɪspjuːt/ n [C;U(about, with, over)] (an)
argument or quarrel, especially an official one between one
group or organization and another: a pay dispute | a pro-
longed legal dispute over the ownership of the land | The
miners were in dispute with their employers over pay. | She is
beyond all dispute/without dispute (=undoubtedly) the
best chemist in the firm. | This question is still in/under
dispute. (=being argued about) | They claim to provide the
best service in the business, but I think that's open to dispute.
(=can be questioned)
disˌputed 'territory n [C;U] (an area of) land claimed by
two or more states: the disputed territory of Nagorno Kara-
bakh