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perturb Definition

per·turb (pər tʉrb)

transitive verb

  1. to cause to be alarmed, agitated, or upset; disturb or trouble greatly
  2. to cause disorder or confusion in; unsettle
  3. Astron. to cause perturbations in (the orbit of a planet, moon, etc.)

Etymology: ME perturben < MFr perturber < L perturbare < per-, intens. + turbare, to disturb: see turbid

perturb Related Forms
per·turb·able adjective per·turb·edly adverb per·turber noun
perturb Synonyms

perturb

v.

  1. To annoy

    pester, worry, irritate, disturb; see bother 2.

  2. To confuse

    perplex, confound, bewilder; see confuse. See syn. study at disturb.

perturb Usage Examples

Object

  • field: Finally, some argue that electric field measurements are of little use because the operator perturbs the field.
  • model: Various ways to perturb the model, such as variation of parameters in parametrization schemes and stochastic physics, will be explored.
  • system: Columns 3 and 4 are QM and MM energy of the forward perturbed system.
  • condition: Lyapunov exponent: The Lyapunov characteristic exponent gives the rate of exponential divergence from perturbed initial conditions.
  • state: One day, on visiting Angelica there, I found her in a perturbed state of mind.
  • orbit: Even at the distance between the outer planets, an intruding tiny star could perturb orbits.

Preposition: at

  • thought: The guide, Sunil Adhikari, was a local who did not seem perturbed at the thought of venturing into the notorious slums.

Preposition: into

  • orbit: If it ever is perturbed into an orbit that approaches the Sun it will be a truly spectacular comet.

Modifying Another Word

  • singularly: S Langdon & IG Graham 2001 Boundary integral methods for singularly perturbed boundary value problems.
  • somewhat: Somewhat perturbed, he pumped off five rounds rapid, but the figure still drew closer.
  • slightly: Much as i usually look forward to the fantastic culinary delights that usually descend from your kitchen, am feeling slightly perturbed.
  • seriously: We are also seriously perturbed by the definition of " best interests " which is very wooly.
  • deeply: He, being nearly finished, was obviously deeply perturbed.
  • rather: Tim got a towel under me and was rather perturbed when I informed him that the baby was coming " now!

Infinitive complement

  • find: Meanwhile Clive was perturbed to find that the sing-song had even infiltrated the coffee shop he had sought refuge in.
  • see: I was rather perturbed to see you mentioning the possibility of making a premature withdrawal in your email.
  • hear: But as the H-P got close, we were perturbed to hear the engine die.
  • learn: But Des was perturbed to learn that his next show was to be an outside broadcast.

Preposition: by

  • noise: For instance, Figure 6 shows an example of the synthetic shape with its points perturbed by noise.
  • lack: Asked recently on Chelsea TV how he felt about this, Vialli said he was perturbed by the lack of communication.

Browse dictionary entries near perturb

  1. pertness
  2. pertinent
  3. pertinence
  4. pertinacity
  5. pertinacious
  6. Perth
  7. pertaining
  8. pertain
  9. pert
  10. persulfate
  1. perturbation
  2. perturbed
  3. pertussis
  4. Peru
  5. Peru current
  6. Perugia
  7. Perugino
  8. peruke
  9. perusal
  10. peruse