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distortion definition - telecom
The presence of undesired changes in some attribute of a waveform. Distortion is a type of noise that typically occurs in an amplifier, repeater, or transducer. Distortion commonly manifests as a nonlinear relationship between an input waveform and an output waveform, a non-uniform frequency shift, or a phase shift not proportional to the frequency. See also noise.

Webster's New World Telecom Dictionary Copyright © 2008 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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