disturbance-n; 5 Senses

Sense Number 1: the interference or disruption of a state or process

Commentary: DISTURBANCE[+activity][+interruption]
NOTE: implies an agent interrupts a prior state or activity in some way.
NOTE: usually implies the interrupted state/activity of a living being.

Examples:
The child's constant disturbance of Mary's concentration made it impossible for her to get any work done.
That fence along the beach is to prevent the disturbance of nesting birds in the vicinity.
Mary's late night phone calls were a disturbance to John's sleep.

Mappings:
PropBank: disturbance.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2, 5

Sense Number 2: an outburst, commotion

Commentary: DISTURBANCE[+activity][+outburst][+fight/+commotion]
NOTE: implies noise, ruckus, commotion
NOTE: does not imply widespread social unrest or violence on large scale (Sense 5)

Examples:
The police log reported several disturbances last week at a local tavern.
The loud drunk men created a disturbance as they walked along the otherwise quiet street.
Residents worry that the new runway will create additional disturbance from overflying aircraft.

Mappings:
PropBank: disturbance.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3, 4

Sense Number 3: a medical disorder, abnormal functioning

Commentary: DISTURBANCE[+state][+physiological][+condition][+abnormal]

Examples:
The child's emotional disturbance can be treated with medication.
These patients all suffer from severe mental disturbances.
Epilepsy is caused by electrical disturbances in the brain.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 6

Sense Number 4: an environmental perturbation, e.g., meteorological

Commentary: DISTURBANCE[+activity][+perturbation][+environmental]
NOTE: does not interrupt the state or activity of living beings (Sense 1)

Examples:
Electrical disturbances caused by sun spots knocked out communications for a few minutes.
This instrument can measure even a very slight seismic disturbance along the fault.
The big storm waves caused a disturbance of the sandy bottom of the lagoon.

Mappings:
PropBank: disturbance.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 7

Sense Number 5: social upheaval, civic unrest

Commentary: DISTURBANCE[+state][+social][+unrest][+civic]
NOTE: implies widespread tumult, large-scale violence

Examples:
There are reports of new disturbances along the border between the countries.
The disturbance started when a leader of their community was sentenced to life in prison.

Mappings:
PropBank: disturbance.01
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 1b