/ˈdɪsɪplɪn; `dɪsəˌplɪn/
n. 训练, 纪律
vt. 训练, 惩罚
【法】 纪律, 风纪, 惩戒
1 (a) [U] training, esp of the mind and character, aimed at producing self-control, obedience, etc 训练, 锻练, 磨练（尤指在智力和品德方面）: school discipline 学校的训练 * Strict discipline is imposed on army recruits. 新兵受到严格的训练. * monastic discipline 僧侣的修行. (b) [U] result of such training; ordered behaviour, eg of schoolchildren, soldiers 纪律; 风纪: The soldiers showed perfect discipline under fire. 士兵在枪林弹雨中严守军纪. * The children are happy at the school, but they lack discipline. 孩子们在学校里很快活, 但很散漫.
2 [C] (a) method by which training may be given 训练方式: Yoga is a good discipline for learning to relax. 要学会身心松弛, 瑜珈功是一种有效的锻炼方法. (b) set rules for conduct 行为准则.
3 [U] punishment 处罚; 处分: the teacher’s cruel discipline 该教师施予的残酷处罚.
4 [C] branch of knowledge; subject of instruction 学科; 教学科目: scientific disciplines 科学科目.
v.
1 [Tn, Cn.t] train (sb/sth) to be obedient, self-controlled, skilful, etc 训练, 训导, 管教（某人[某物]）: a well/badly disciplined orchestra, football team, etc 训练有素的[缺乏训练的]管弦乐队、足球队等 * Parents have to discipline their children. 做父母的须管教子女. * You must discipline yourself to finish your work on time. 你必须严格要求自己按时完成任务.
2 [Tn] punish (sb) 处罚, 处分（某人）: The teacher disciplined the class by giving them extra homework. 那教师布置额外的家庭作业来处罚学生.
Francois Jacob:
Among these, the theory of evolution is by far the most important, because it draws together from the most varied sources a mass of observations which would otherwise remain isolated; it unites all the disciplines concerned with living beings; it establishes order among the extraordinary variety of organisms and closely binds them to the rest of the earth; in short, it provides a causal explanation of the living world and its heterogeneity.
by far：迄今
最重要的一个理论是进化。
它统一了与生物有关的所有学科;这里的discipline是学科。
NTP 5905
The NTP state machines are defined in the following sections. State variables are separated into classes according to their function in packet headers, peer and poll processes, the system process, and the clock discipline process.
时钟训练进程；维护时钟规则的一个进程。这里使用了训练（名词）来修饰进程。
The clock discipline process is a system process that controls the time and frequency of the system clock, here represented as a variable frequency oscillator (VFO).
In this way, the population includes only the best candidates that have most recently responded with an NTP packet to discipline the system clock.
这里使用了动词，调整/约束系统时钟。
总之是通过正常的方式加以训练，劝导，让某件事情，人，物，维持在一个正常的道德水准（表现出来的）。大家普遍接收的一个水准。然后是引申出来的，比如纪律，惩罚等相关的含义。
discipline 是由下面这个词派生出来。
disciple
*[di’saipl]
n. 弟子, 门徒
<— 牛津现代英汉双解词典 —>
/dɪˈsaɪpl; dɪ`saɪpl/ n follower of a religious, political, artistic, etc leader or teacher （宗教、政治、艺术等领袖人物或导师的）追随者, 门徒, 信徒.