disappear

views updated May 29 2018

dis·ap·pear / ˌdisəˈpi(ə)r/ • v. 1. [intrans.] cease to be visible: he disappeared into the trees the sun had disappeared. ∎  cease to exist or be in use: the tension had completely disappeared. ∎  (of a thing) be lost or impossible to find: my wallet seems to have disappeared. ∎  (of a person) go missing or (in coded political language) be killed: the family disappeared after being taken into custody.2. [trans.] cause to disappear, as by consumption: statistics show that the community disappears about 200 pounds of cabbage a year.

disappear

views updated May 11 2018

disappear XV. f. DIS- 3 + APPEAR, after F. disparaître.
Hence disappearance XVIII.