perturbation

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Related to perturbation: Perturbation theory

per·tur·ba·tion

(pûr′tər-bā′shən)

a. The act of perturbing.

b. The state of being perturbed; agitation.

2. A small change in a physical system, such as a variation in a planet's orbit resulting from the gravitational influence of other celestial bodies.

per′tur·ba′tion·al adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

perturbation

(ˌpɜːtəˈbeɪʃən) or

perturbance

1. the act of perturbing or the state of being perturbed

2. a cause of disturbance or upset

3. (General Physics) physics a secondary influence on a system that modifies simple behaviour, such as the effect of the other electrons on one electron in an atom

4. (Astronomy) astronomy a small continuous deviation in the inclination and eccentricity of the orbit of a planet or comet, due to the attraction of neighbouring planets

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

per•tur•ba•tion

(ˌpɜr tərˈbeɪ ʃən)

n.

1. the act of perturbing.

2. the state of being perturbed.

3. deviation of a celestial body from a regular orbit about its primary, caused by the presence of one or more other bodies that act upon it.

[1325–75; Middle English perturbacioun (< Anglo-French) < Latin perturbātiō; see perturb, -tion]

per`tur•ba′tion•al, adj.

perturbation

One space body’s gravitational effect on another’s orbit.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	perturbation - an unhappy and worried mental state; "there was too much anger and disturbance"; "she didn't realize the upset she caused me" upset, disturbance agitation - a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
	2.	perturbation - (physics) a secondary influence on a system that causes it to deviate slightly natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" influence - the effect of one thing (or person) on another; "the influence of mechanical action" variation - (astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon)
	3.	perturbation - activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption; "the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation and emotional upset"; "he looked around for the source of the disturbance"; "there was a disturbance of neural function" disturbance activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity" bother, hassle, trouble, fuss - an angry disturbance; "he didn't want to make a fuss"; "they had labor trouble"; "a spot of bother" magnetic storm - a sudden disturbance of the earth's magnetic field; caused by emission of particles from the sun
	4.	perturbation - a disposition that is confused or nervous and upset fluster discomposure - a temperament that is perturbed and lacking in composure
	5.	perturbation - the act of causing disorder disruption disturbance - the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion breakdown, dislocation - the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue; "the social dislocations resulting from government policies"; "his warning came after the breakdown of talks in London" surprisal, surprise - the act of surprising someone

perturbation

noun

A state of discomposure:

agitation, dither, fluster, flutter, tumult, turmoil, upset.

Informal: lather, stew.

Translations

perturbation

perturbazione turbamento

пертурбация

perturbation

[ˌpɜːtɜːˈbeɪʃən] N

1. (= distress) → inquietud f, preocupación f

2. (= disturbance) (esp Phys, Astron) → perturbación f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

perturbation

n (= state) → Unruhe f; (= act) → Beunruhigung f; to be in (a state of) perturbation → ziemlich in Unruhe sein

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

perturbation

n. perturbación.

sentimiento de inquietud;

variación anormal de un estado regular a otro.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

References in classic literature ?

Every time I ascended to the deck from my watches below, I instantly gazed aft to mark if any strange face were visible; for my first vague disquietude touching the unknown captain, now in the seclusion of the sea, became almost a perturbation. This was strangely heightened at times by the ragged Elijah's diabolical incoherences uninvitedly recurring to me, with a subtle energy I could not have before conceived of.

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what perturbation and what evil thoughts, not seeing underneath the sorrows of impermanence, the impurity, the unreality!

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When they had been announced a perturbation was noticeable among the servants.

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She now first perceived the weakness of which she had been guilty; and though it caused the utmost perturbation in her mind, yet it had the effect of other nauseous physic, and for the time expelled her distemper.

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In spite of her own perturbation and heartache, her hands had not been idle, and she stood now at the bedside with the quieting powder ready.

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Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness, so great was the perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone.

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I was a terrible dreamer, I would dream for three months on end, tucked away in my corner, and you may believe me that at those moments I had no resemblance to the gentleman who, in the perturbation of his chicken heart, put a collar of German beaver on his great-coat.

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He was beginning, then, to dart at them glances full of mistrust and uneasiness, inviting Anne of Austria to throw perturbation in the midst of the unlawful assembly, when, suddenly, Bernouin, entering from behind the tapestry of the bedroom, whispered in the ear of Mazarin, "Monseigneur, an envoy from his majesty, the king of England."

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When Edgar began to question him on the subject regarding which he had sent for him, old Simon exhibited much perturbation. In fact, he became so frightened that his master, fully believing that he was concealing something, ordered him to tell at once what remained unseen, and where it was hidden away.

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It was in his eyes that I saw the cause of her perturbation. Ordinarily grey and cold and harsh, they were now warm and soft and golden, and all a-dance with tiny lights that dimmed and faded, or welled up till the full orbs were flooded with a glowing radiance.

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The perturbation in my mind, in regard to thinking about it, being truly dreadful after my lady had gone away, I applied the remedy which I have never yet found to fail me in cases of doubt and emergency.

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I confess that I felt a more than usual, indeed a quite irrational, perturbation of the blood, as, coming level with her, I dared to look into her face.