dislocate

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

verb (used with object)

dislocated, dislocating 

1. to put out of place; put out of proper relative position; displace.

   The glacier dislocated great stones. The earthquake dislocated several buildings.

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

3. to throw out of order; upset; disorder.

   Frequent strikes dislocated the economy.

noun

1. 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.

dislocate

/ ˈdɪsləˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to disrupt or shift out of place or position

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

Other Word Forms

• undislocated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dislocate¹

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

Example Sentences

I think Ma noticed because she tried to get me to wear the dashiki on one of our dress-down days during the last few weeks of school … but honestly, I would rather dislocate a shoulder.

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Wales were without injured inspirational skipper Jac Morgan who dislocated his shoulder against Argentina.

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Waiting times came under the spotlight last week after it emerged a Queen's Park footballer with a dislocated knee waited nearly 10 hours for an ambulance.

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The 24-year-old uncharacteristically spilled several high balls early on, before being forced off in the closing stages with a dislocated finger.

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She said global copper markets are likely to “remain dislocated” until there is a final decision on tariffs.

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