different between disturb vs browbeat

English

Etymology

From Middle English destourben, from Anglo-Norman distourber and Old French destorber, from Latin disturbare, intensifying for turbare (“to throw into disorder”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d?s?t??b/
• Rhymes: -??(r)b

Verb

disturb (third-person singular simple present disturbs, present participle disturbing, simple past and past participle disturbed)

1. (transitive) to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.

2. (transitive) to divert, redirect, or alter by disturbing.
3. (intransitive) to have a negative emotional impact; to cause emotional distress or confusion.

Derived terms

• disturbance

Translations

Noun

disturb

1. (obsolete) disturbance

English

Alternative forms

• brow-beat

Etymology

brow +? beat

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /?b?a?.bi?t/

Verb

browbeat (third-person singular simple present browbeats, present participle browbeating, simple past browbeat, past participle browbeaten)

1. (transitive) To bully in an intimidating, bossy, or supercilious way.

   Though the teacher browbeat all the children, they still acted out during the lesson.

Synonyms

• (to bully in an intimidating way): bully, cow, domineer, intimidate

Related terms

• browbeater

Translations

References

• browbeat in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• browbeat in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.