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perturbation

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Perturbation is an anxiety or disturbance, or is a cause of disturbance, or a from what is normal, especially when the deviation is caused by an outside influence.

(noun)

When you are feeling anxious about something you are required to do but don't like do, this is an example ofperturbation.
When your routine or schedule is interrupted because of a friend, this can be an example ofperturbation.

See perturbation in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a perturbing or being perturbed
something that perturbs; disturbance
Astron. a small change in an orbit caused by the attraction of another celestial body, other bodies, etc.

Origin: ME < MFr perturbacion < L perturbatio

Related Forms:

perturbational adjective or perturbative

See perturbation in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. The act of perturbing.
b. The state of being perturbed; agitation.
a. A small change in a physical system.
b. Physics & Astronomy Variation in a designated orbit, as of a planet, resulting from the influence of one or more external bodies.

Related Forms: