1. an event that results in a displacement or discontinuity (Freq. 1) • Syn: disruption • Derivationally related forms: dislocate • Hypernyms: interruption, break 2. the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue (Freq. 1) - the social dislocations resulting from government policies - his warning came after the breakdown of talks in London • Syn: breakdown • Derivationally related forms: break down (for: breakdown), dislocate • Hypernyms: disruption, perturbation 3. a displacement of a part (especially a bone) from its normal position (as in the shoulder or the vertebral column) • Derivationally related forms: dislocate • Hypernyms: injury, hurt, harm, trauma • Hyponyms: abarticulation, diastasis, spondylolisthesis
