dispose of

English

Verb

dispose of (third-person singular simple present disposes of, present participle disposing of, simple past and past participle disposed of)

1. (transitive) To get rid of.

   They disposed of the stolen property.

   The national power committee has trouble disposing of nuclear waste.

   • 1899 March, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number MI, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part II:

     ‘Yes,’ answered the manager; ‘he sent his assistant down the river with a note to me in these terms: “Clear this poor devil out of the country, and don’t bother sending more of that sort. I had rather be alone than have the kind of men you can dispose of with me.”

   • 1959, Tom Lehrer (lyrics and music), “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park”:

     But it's not against any religion / To want to dispose of a pigeon

2. (transitive) To transfer to another's control.
3. (transitive) To deal with conclusively with a threat or a difficult situation.
4. (transitive) To arrange in an orderly way.
5. (transitive) To settle or conclusively deal with, e.g. a dispute.
6. (transitive, European Union) To have available, or at one's disposal.

   The Commission may not be able to assess the reliability of the data provided by Member States and may not dispose of independent information sources.