commotion

From Middle French commocion, from Latin commōtiōnem, accusative singular of commōtiō, from commoveō +‎ -tiō.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kəˈməʊ.ʃən/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• (US) IPA^(key): /kəˈmoʊ.ʃən/
• Rhymes: -əʊʃən

commotion (countable and uncountable, plural commotions)

1. A state of turbulent motion.
2. An agitated disturbance or a hubbub.
   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, pages 97–98:

     It would seem as if calm were necessary to convulsion; for the tranquillity of the last few months was again to be disturbed by political commotion.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.

3. (euphemistic) Sexual excitement.
   • 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:

     and now, glancing my eyes towards that part of his dress which cover'd the essential object of enjoyment, I plainly discover'd the swell and commotion there

• See also Thesaurus:commotion

• commotion lotion
• commotional

• Audio:

  (file)

commotion f (plural commotions)

1. a violent collision or shock; concussion
2. shock, surprise

• “commotion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.