discard
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of CARTILAGE (=strong bendable material) between the bones of one's back: The pain was caused by a slipped disc. 4 a DISK in a computer system
**dis·card¹** /dıs'ka:d||-a:rd/ *v* 1 [T] to get rid of as useless: to *discard an old coat/one's old friends* 2 [I;T] (in card games) to give up (unwanted cards): *to discard the Queen of Hearts* | *You've got to discard before you can pick up another card.*
**dis·card²** /'dıska:d||-a:rd/ *n* a card discarded in a card game
**'disc brakes** *n* [P] BRAKES (=apparatus for stopping the wheels of a vehicle) which work by the pressure of a pair of discs against another one in the centre of a car wheel
**di·scern** /dı'sɜ:n||-ɜ:rn/ *v* [T not in progressive forms] to see, notice, or understand, especially with difficulty; PERCEIVE: *I could just discern the shape of a horse in the mist.* | [+that] *I soon discerned that the man was lying.* | [+wh-] *It was difficult to discern which of them was telling the truth.* **--ible** *adj*: *There is still no discernible improvement in the economic situation.* **--ibly** *adv*
**di·scern·ing** /dı'sɜ:nıŋ||-ɜ:r-/ *adj apprec* showing an ability to make good judgments, especially in matters of style, fashion, beauty etc: *The paper has a discerning readership.* | *a fashionable clothes shop for the discerning young man*
**di·scern·ment** /dı'sɜ:nmənt||-ɜ:r-/ *n* [U] *apprec* the quality of being discerning: *He showed great discernment in his choice of wine.*
**dis·charge¹** /dıs'tʃɑ:dʒ||-a:r-/ *v usually fml* 1 [T(from)] to allow or tell (a person) to go: *The judge discharged the prisoner.* | *Although she was still ill, she discharged herself from hospital.* | *He was discharged from the army.* 2 [I+adv/prep;T] to send, pour, or let out (gas, liquid etc): *The chimney discharges smoke.* | *The River Rhine discharges (itself) into the North Sea.* 3 [T] to perform (a duty or promise) properly 4 [T] to pay (a debt) completely 5 [T] to unload: *to discharge the ship/the cargo* | *The aircraft discharged its passengers.* 6 [T(at, into)] to fire or shoot (a gun, ARROW etc) 7 [I] (of a wound) to send out PUS (=infected liquid matter) 8 [I;T] a) (of a piece of electrical equipment) to send out electricity or lose stored electrical power b) to cause the removal of electricity or of stored electrical power from
**dis·charge²** /'dıstʃɑ:dʒ, 'dıstʃa:rdʒ||-a:r-/ *n usually fml* 1 [U] the action of discharging: *the discharge of one's debts/of one's duty/of smoke from a chimney* | *After my discharge from the army I went into business.* 2 [C;U] something that is discharged: *a discharge of electricity* | *The fish in the river were poisoned by discharge from the chemical factory.*
**dis,charged 'bankrupt** *n* a BANKRUPT (=someone who is unable to pay their debts) who has obeyed the orders of the court and is now free to do business again
**di·sci·ple** /dı'saıpəl/ *n* 1 a follower of any great teacher (especially of a religiously teacher): *Martin Luther King considered himself a disciple of Gandhi.* 2 (often cap.) in the Christian religion, one of the first followers of Christ, especially an APOSTLE: *the 12 disciples*
**di·sci·pli·nar·i·an** /ˌdısıplı'neəriən/ *n* a person who can make people obey orders or who believes in firm discipline: *a strict disciplinarian*
**di·sci·pli·na·ry** /'dısıplınəri, ˌdısı'plı-||'dısıplıneri/ *adj* connected with punishment or the encouragement of obedience: *The college authorities took disciplinary action against the protesting students.* | *She was dismissed in accordance with the company's usual disciplinary procedures.*
**di·sci·pline¹** /'dısıplın/ *n* 1 [C;U] (a method of) training to produce obedience and self-control: *school/military discipline* | *Learning poetry is a good discipline for the memory.* $\rightarrow$ see also SELF-DISCIPLINE 2 [U] a state of order and control gained as a result of this training: *The teacher can't keep discipline in her classroom.* 3 [U] punishment that is intended to produce obedience: *That child needs discipline!* 4 [C] a branch of learning studied at a university: *an academic discipline*
**discipline²** *v* [T] 1 to train or develop, especially in obedience and self-control: *They never make any attempt to discipline their children.* | *a disciplined army* | *I've disciplined myself to do two hours of exercises every day.* 2 to punish for the purpose of keeping order and control: *The offenders will be severely disciplined.*
**'disc ,jockey** $\rightarrow$ see DJ
**dis·claim** /dıs'kleım/ *v* [T] to state that one does not have or accept; DENY: *He disclaimed all responsibility for the accident.* | [+v-ing] *She disclaims being involved in the affair.*
**dis·claim·er** /dıs'kleımə/ *n* a statement which disclaims: *to issue/publish a disclaimer*
**dis·close** /dıs'kləʊz/ *v* [T] 1 to make known (especially something that has been kept secret) publicly: *The judge asked the reporters not to disclose the name of the murder victim.* | [+that] *She disclosed that she had been in prison.* 2 to show by uncovering: *The curtain opened, disclosing an empty stage.*
**dis·clo·sure** /dıs'kləʊʒə/ *n* 1 [U] the act of disclosing: *the unauthorized disclosure of state secrets* 2 [C] a fact, especially a secret fact, which is disclosed: *In the course of the trial a number of sensational disclosures were made.*
**dis·co** /'dıskəʊ/ also **discotheque** *fml* --*n pl*. **-cos** 1 a club where people dance to recorded popular music 2 a social occasion at which people dance to recorded popular music: *the Friday night disco in the church hall* $\rightarrow$ see Cultural Note at DANCE
**'disco ,dancing** *n* [U] dancing to modern recorded popular music
**dis·col·o·ra·tion** /dısˌkʌlə'reıʃən/ *n* 1 [U] the act of discoloring or the process of being discoloured 2 [C] a discoloured place; a mark or STAIN
**dis·col·our** *BrE* || **discolor** *AmE* /dıs'kʌlə/ *v* [I;T] to (cause to) change colour and look worse: *teeth discoloured by years of smoking*
**dis·com·bob·u·late** /ˌdıskəm'bɒbjʊleıt||-'ba:-/ *v* [T] *AmE infml* to confuse or upset: *The stress of moving house is discombobulating her.*
**dis·com·fit** /dıs'kʌmfıt/ *v* [T] *fml* to make (someone) feel rather annoyed and uncomfortable; EMBARRASS slightly: *She hadn't done anything, so she was rather discomfited when he thanked her for her valuable help.*
**dis·com·fi·ture** /dıs'kʌmfıtʃə/ *n* [U] the act of discomfiting or state of being discomfited
**dis·com·fort** /dıs'kʌmfət||-ərt/ *n* 1 [U] lack of comfort; the state of being uncomfortable: *The wound isn't serious, but may cause some discomfort.* 2 [C] something that makes one uncomfortable: *the discomforts of travel* 3 [U] slight anxiety or shame: *She turned red with discomfort when the teacher called out her name.*
**dis·com·mode** /ˌdıskə'məʊd/ *v* [T] *fml* to cause difficulty for; INCOMMODE
**dis·com·pose** /ˌdıskəm'pəʊz/ *v* [T] *fml* to make (someone) lose control and become worried **--posure** /-'pəʊʒə/ *n* [U]
**dis·con·cert** /ˌdıskən'sɜ:t||-ɜ:rt/ *v* [T often pass.] to make (someone) feel doubt and anxiety; PERTURB: *Their parents were disconcerted by their silence.* | *It was rather disconcerting to find that someone had been opening my letters.* **--ingly** *adv*: *The baby is disconcertingly like Mr Jones.*
**dis·con·nect** /ˌdıskə'nekt/ *v* [T] 1 [(from)] to undo the connection of (especially a public supply, e.g. electricity, telephone wires etc): *They've disconnected our phone because we didn't pay the bill.* | *to disconnect a waterpipe from the mains supply* 2 to break the telephone connection between (two people): *I think we've been disconnected, operator---will you try the number again, please?* **--ion** /-'nekʃən/ *n* [C;U]
**dis·con·nect·ed** /ˌdıskə'nektıd/ *adj* (especially of thoughts and ideas) having no connection: *a few disconnected remarks* **--ly** *adv*
**dis·con·so·late** /dıs'kɒnsəlıt||-'ka:n-/ *adj* hopelessly sad, especially at the loss of something: *She is disconsolate about/at/over the death of her cat.* **--ly** *adv*
**dis·con·tent¹** /ˌdıskən'tent/ also **dis·con·tent·ment** /-mənt/ *n* [U(with)] lack of satisfaction; restless unhappiness: *growing discontent among the young unemployed*
**discontent²** *v* [T] to make (someone) discontented
**dis·con·tent·ed** /ˌdıskən'tentıd/ *adj* [(with)] dissatisfied and restlessly unhappy: *She has a discontented look, as if she never enjoys life.* | *He's discontented with his job.* | *discontented customers* **--ly** *adv*
**dis·con·tin·ue** /ˌdıskən'tınju:/ *v* [T] *rather fml* to stop or end;