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commotion

 - 4 dictionary results

com⋅mo⋅tion

  [kuh-moh-shuhn]
Use commotion in a Sentence
–noun
1. violent or tumultuous motion; agitation; noisy disturbance: What's all the commotion in the hallway?
2. political or social disturbance or upheaval; sedition; insurrection.
Origin:
1520–30; < L commōtiōn- (s. of commōtiō), equiv. to commōt(us) ptp. of commovēre to commove + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
com⋅mo⋅tion⋅al, adjective
com⋅mo⋅tive, adjective

Synonyms:
1. disorder, turmoil, tumult, riot, turbulence, bustle. See ado.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To commotion
com·mo·tion   (kə-mō'shən)   
n.  

  1. A condition of turbulent motion.

    1. An agitated disturbance; a hubbub: heard a commotion in the hall.

    2. Civil disturbance or insurrection; disorder.


[Middle English commocioun, from Old French commotion, from Latin commōtiō, commōtiōn-, from commōtus, past participle of commovēre, to disturb : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + movēre, to move; see meuə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

commotion 
c.1390, from M.Fr. commocion "violent motion, agitation," from L. commotionem (nom. commotio), from commotus, pp. of commovere "to move, disturb," from com- "together" + movere "to move" (see move).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

commotion

see cause a commotion.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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