Definition

1. Verb:
   • To put a bone out of its normal position in a joint: To cause a bone to be displaced from its proper connection at a joint, often resulting in injury.
   • To disturb the normal arrangement or functioning of something: To put something out of order, disrupt its usual sequence, or displace it from its proper place.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • He fell and managed to dislocate his shoulder. (He fell and caused his shoulder bone to come out of its joint.)
  • The earthquake was powerful enough to dislocate several layers of rock. (The earthquake was powerful enough to displace layers of rock from their original positions.)
  • The sudden factory closure dislocated the entire local economy. (The sudden closure disrupted the normal functioning of the local economy.)

Advanced Usage

• "to dislocate oneself": To put one's own joint out of place (often used reflexively or in medical contexts).
  • The gymnast feared she might dislocate herself during the difficult maneuver.
• Used in geological contexts to describe the displacement of rock strata.
  • The fault line has dislocated the sedimentary layers.

Variants and Related Words

• Dislocation (n): The act of dislocating or the state of being dislocated.
  • The patient was treated for a shoulder dislocation.
• Dislocated (adj): Describing something that has been put out of place.
  • She had a dislocated finger.

Synonyms

• Luxate (verb, medical): To displace a bone from its joint.
• Displace: To move something from its proper or usual place.
• Disrupt: To interrupt the normal course or unity of something.

Phrasal Verbs

(This word is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically contained within the single verb form.)

Related Idioms

(There are no common idioms that use the exact word "dislocate" as a key component.)

Verb

1. put out of its usual place, position, or relationship
   • The colonists displaced the natives
2. move out of position
   • dislocate joints
   • the artificial hip joint luxated and had to be put back surgically