dislocate

[dis-loh-keyt, dis-loh-keyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dislocate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), dis·lo·cat·ed, dis·lo·cat·ing

to put out of place; put out of proper relative position; displace: The glacier dislocated great stones. The earthquake dislocated several buildings.

to put out of joint or out of position, as a limb or an organ.

to throw out of order; upset; disorder: Frequent strikes dislocated the economy.

noun

Gymnastics. a maneuver on the rings in which a gymnast in an inverted pike position turns over to swing down while pushing the arms out and turning them so that the palms are facing out when the body turns over.

Origin of dislocate

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin dislocātus (past participle of dislocāre), equivalent to Latin dis- dis-¹ + locātus placed; see locate

Related formsun·dis·lo·cat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dislocate

disengage, disturb, disconnect, divide, separate, transfer, move, upset, misplace, break, disorder, remove, disunite, disjoint, jumble, shift, disrupt, unhinge, rummage, disarticulate

Examples from the Web for dislocate

Historical Examples of dislocate

The latter did so with a vigor that threatened to dislocate the armor itself.
Adrift on the Pacific
Edward S. Ellis
Behold him then, rubbing and rubbing, in a way to dislocate the muscles of his arm and shoulder.
Godfrey Morgan
Jules Verne
"I can play the violin, and I can dislocate," said Mattia breathlessly.
Nobody's Boy
Hector Malot
As if he'd dislocate his jaw, His relatives all hasten where He waits them with a crafty air.
Blacky the Crow
Thornton W. Burgess
"If I could lay my hands on him, I'd dislocate him," said K, snapping his eyes.
On a Donkey's Hurricane Deck
R. Pitcher Woodward

British Dictionary definitions for dislocate

dislocate

verb (tr)

to disrupt or shift out of place or position

to displace (an organ or part) from its normal position, esp a bone from its joint

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dislocate

c.1600, from earlier adjective or past participle dislocate "out of joint" (c.1400), from Medieval Latin dislocatus, past participle of dislocare "put out of place," from Latin dis- "away" (see dis-) + locare "to place" (see locate). Related: Dislocated; dislocating.

dislocate in Medicine

dislocate

[dĭs′lō-kāt′, dĭs-lō′kāt]

v.

To displace a body part, especially to displace a bone from its normal position.