disposal

disposal
disposal, disposition are frequently used without clear distinction when they mean the act or the power of disposing of something.
However, when the emphasis is upon what shall be done with money, property, or possessions, disposal tends to imply a getting rid of (as by selling, giving away, assigning to others, or destroying) and disposition, a proper or orderly distribution or utilization
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the disposal of her jewels seemed necessary to pay her debts

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the disposition of the intestate's property has been agreed upon by the heirs

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incinerators used for the disposal of garbage

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I am happy that the speedy disposal of the pictures will enable you ... to settle this unpleasant affair— Mitford

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the donors have stipulated for the future disposition ... of those funds— John Marshall

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When the idea of arrangement or ordering or of making arrangements is stressed, disposition, rather than disposal, is the more accurate term
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while the disposition of the branches is unsymmetrical, balance is maintained— Binyon

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a deserter had informed Octavian of the general plan . . . and he made his dispositions accordingly— Buchan

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The idiomatic phrases at one's disposal and at (or in) one's disposition differ in that, though both imply a placing under one's control, the former suggests use as one sees fit and the latter, subjection to one's direction, arrangement, or command
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they put their summer home at the disposal of the bridal couple

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had at his disposition no inconsiderable sums of money— Trench

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Analogous words: destroying or destruction, demolishing or demolition (see corresponding verbs at DESTROY)

New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.

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  • disposal — dis‧pos‧al [dɪˈspəʊzl ǁ ˈspoʊ ] noun 1. [uncountable] when someone gets rid of something they no longer need or want: disposal of • European Community environment ministers agreed to tighten controls on the production, transport and disposal of… …   Financial and business terms

  • Disposal — Dis*pos al, n. [From {Dispose}.] 1. The act of disposing, or disposing of, anything; arrangement; orderly distribution; a putting in order; as, the disposal of the troops in two lines. [1913 Webster] 2. Ordering; regulation; adjustment;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • disposal — disposal, disposition In general, disposal is the noun corresponding to dispose of (= get rid of) and disposition corresponds to dispose (= arrange). So the disposition of the furniture refers to the way the furniture is laid out, whereas the… …   Modern English usage

  • disposal — ► NOUN ▪ the action or process of disposing. ● at one s disposal Cf. ↑at one s disposal …   English terms dictionary

  • disposal — [di spō′zəl] n. 1. the act of disposing; specif., a) arrangement in a particular order [the disposal of furniture in a room] b) a dealing with matters or settling of affairs c) a giving away; transfer; bestowal d) a getting rid of 2. the power to …   English World dictionary

  • disposal — [n1] parting with or throwing something away auctioning, bartering, chucking, clearance, conveyance, demolishing, demolition, destroying, destruction, discarding, dispatching, dispensation, disposition, dumping, ejection, jettison, jettisoning,… …   New thesaurus

  • disposal — index administration, allotment, cession, conveyance, disbursement (act of disbursing), dismissal (termination of a proceeding), dispatch (act of putting to death) …   Law dictionary

  • disposal — 1620s, power to make use of; see DISPOSE (Cf. dispose) + AL (Cf. al) (2); of waste material, from c.1960, originally in medical use …   Etymology dictionary

  • disposal — n. availability 1) to have at one s disposal (I had a huge car at my disposal) 2) to place smt. at smb. s disposal 3) at smb. s disposal device used to grind up garbage 4) a garbage disposal; or: a garbage disposal unit elimination of refuse 5)… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • disposal — dis|pos|al [dıˈspəuzəl US ˈspou ] n 1.) [U] when you get rid of something disposal of ▪ the safe disposal of radioactive waste ▪ bomb disposal experts 2.) at sb s disposal available for someone to use ▪ Tanner had a lot of cash at his disposal …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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