Definition of “disable” - English Dictionary

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“disable” in English

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disableverb

uk ​ /dɪˈseɪ.bəl/ us ​ /dɪˈseɪ.bəl/

disable verb (PERSON)

› [ T often passive ] to cause someone to have an illness, injury, or condition that makes it difficult for them to do the things that other people do:

She was disabled in the accident.

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disable verb (MACHINE)

› [ T ] to stop something such as (part of) a machine, system, or weapon from working:

This weapons system will destroy or disable any incoming missile.
Disable the alarm system and then enter the building.

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disabling
adjective uk ​ /dɪˈseɪ.blɪŋ/ us ​ /dɪˈseɪ.blɪŋ/

›

a disabling illness

(Definition of “disable” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“disable” in American English

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disableverb [ T ]

us ​ /dɪsˈeɪ·bəl/

› to make something or someone unable to act in the correct or usual way:

Thieves disabled the museum’s alarm system.

(Definition of “disable” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“disable” in Business English

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disableverb [ T ]

uk ​ /dɪˈseɪbl/ us ​ IT

› to turn off a part of a computer system, or stop it from working in the normal way:

To disable a program or device, right-click its listing under the appropriate category and choose 'Disable'.

(Definition of “disable” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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