English Dictionary

Definition of “displacement

displacement (dɪsˈpleɪsməntPronunciation for displacement

Definitions

noun

  1. the act of displacing or the condition of being displaced
  2. the weight or volume displaced by a floating or submerged body in a fluid
  3. chemistry another name for substitution
  4. the volume displaced by the piston of a reciprocating pump or engine
  5. psychoanalysis the transferring of emotional feelings from their original object to one that disguises their real nature
  6. geology the distance any point on one side of a fault plane has moved in relation to a corresponding point on the opposite side
  7. astronomy an apparent change in position of a body, such as a star
  8. mathematics the distance measured in a particular direction from a reference point s

Usage examples

  • Blum took off his glasses and began polishing them, transparently a displacement activity.
    Stewart, Michael, Compulsion (1994)
  • Any AC signal flowing beneath the probe causes a displacement current to flow through this capacitor.
    New Scientist (1998)
  • The decision will not involve a wide scale displacement of personnel from Ottawa; fewer than 100 jobs will be transferred to Winnipeg.
    canada.com (2004)
  • `In addition, there is evidence of a displacement effect from the 10 street crime areas.
    Times, Sunday Times (2005)
  • But later he reflected that Bushel must be rather a pitiful fellow to resent his displacement to such a pitch.
    O'Brian, Patrick, The Thirteen Gun Salute (1989)

Browse dictionary