displacement

[dis-pleys-muh nt] /dɪsˈpleɪs mənt/
noun
1.
the act of displacing.
2.
the state of being displaced or the amount or degree to which something is displaced.
3.
Physics.
  1. the displacing in space of one mass by another.
  2. the weight or the volume of fluid displaced by a floating or submerged body.
    Compare Archimedes' principle.
  3. the linear or angular distance in a given direction between a body or point and a reference position.
  4. the distance of an oscillating body from its central position or point of equilibrium at any given moment.
4.
Machinery, Automotive.
  1. the volume of the space through which a piston travels during a single stroke in an engine, pump, or the like.
  2. the total volume of the space traversed by all the pistons.
5.
Nautical. the amount of water that a vessel displaces, expressed in displacement tons.
6.
Geology. the offset of rocks caused by movement along a fault.
7.
Psychoanalysis. the transfer of an emotion from its original focus to another object, person, or situation.
8.
electric displacement.
Origin
1605-15; displace + -ment
Related forms
predisplacement, noun
Examples from the web for displacement
  • His was the solitude, self-doubt and restlessness of dislocation and displacement.
  • My displacement activities always involve something physical.
  • The surveys also reaffirmed his belief that e-books are not a displacement technology, particularly in the short term.
  • Katrina rivaled the 1930s dust bowl in the displacement of poor people.
  • Light is a displacement in electric and magnetic fields.
  • It took them 40 attempts to work out the water displacement formula.
  • Our community fabric has been shredded by displacement and homelessness.
  • The idea was to consider notions of displacement in an area associated with generations of immigrants.
  • Mackey sets out on a terrifying, inspiring spiritual quest, taking on cultural displacement and the ruins of communal identity.
  • This is a displacement strategy that trumps ethanol as a replacement strategy.
British Dictionary definitions for displacement

displacement

/dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/
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.
(chem) another name for substitution
4.
the volume displaced by the piston of a reciprocating pump or engine
5.
(psychoanal) 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.
(maths) the distance measured in a particular direction from a reference point s
Word Origin and History for displacement
n.

1610s, "removal from office;" see displace + -ment. Physics sense is from c.1810.

displacement in Medicine

displacement dis·place·ment (dĭs-plās'mənt)
n.

  1. Removal from the normal location or position.

  2. A defense mechanism in which there is an unconscious shift of emotions, affect, or desires from the original object to a more acceptable or immediate substitute.

  3. A chemical reaction in which an atom, a radical, or a molecule replaces another in a compound.

displacement in Science
displacement
  (dĭs-plās'mənt)   

  1. Chemistry A chemical reaction in which an atom, radical, or molecule replaces another in a compound.

  2. Physics A vector, or the magnitude of a vector, that points from an initial position (of a body or reference frame) to a subsequent position.

  3. The weight or volume of a fluid displaced by a floating body, used especially as a measurement of the weight or bulk of ships.

  4. The volume displaced by a single stroke of a piston in an engine or pump.

  5. Geology

    1. The relative movement between the two sides of a geologic fault.

    2. The distance between the two sides of a fault. Also called dislocation.