aberration

aberration
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to aberration: chromatic aberration, spherical aberration

n.
1. A deviation from what is typical or normal: an election that was an aberration from usual state politics. See Synonyms at deviation.
2. A departure from what is considered natural or proper: "Throughout history, the beast with a taste for human flesh has been regarded as an aberration, even as an outlaw" (Philip Caputo).
3. An abnormal, usually temporary alteration in one's mental state.
4.
a. A defect of focus, such as blurring in an image.
b. An imperfect image caused by a physical defect in an optical element, as in a lens.
5. The apparent displacement of the position of a celestial body in the direction of motion of an observer on Earth, caused by the motion of Earth and the finite velocity of light.
6. Genetics A deviation in the normal structure or number of chromosomes in an organism.
[Latin aberr;ti;, aberr;ti;n-, diversion, from aberr;tus, past participle of aberr;re, to go astray : ab-, away from; see ab-1 + err;re, to stray; see ers- in Indo-European roots.]
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.
aberration (;;b;;re;;;n)
n
1. deviation from what is normal, expected, or usual
2. departure from truth, morality, etc
3. a lapse in control of one's mental faculties
4. (General Physics) optics a defect in a lens or mirror that causes the formation of either a distorted image or one with coloured fringes. See also spherical aberration, chromatic aberration
5. (Astronomy) astronomy the apparent displacement of a celestial body due to the finite speed of light and the motion of the observer with the earth
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ab•er•ra•tion (;;b ;;re; ;;n)

n.
1. deviation from the usual or normal course.
2. deviation from the usual or normal type.
3. deviation from truth or moral rectitude.
4. mental unsoundness, esp. of a minor or temporary nature; mental lapse.
5. apparent displacement of a heavenly body, owing to the motion of the earth in its orbit.
6. any disturbance of the rays of a pencil of light such that they can no longer be brought to a sharp focus or form a clear image.
[1585–95; < Latin aberr;ti; <aberr;(re) (see aberrant)]
ab`er•ra;tion•al, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ab·er·ra·tion (;b;;-r;;sh;n)
1. A deviation in the normal structure or number of chromosomes in an organism.
2. The failure of a lens, mirror, or telescope to bring rays of light coming from a source, such as a star, to a single focus, causing a distorted or blurred image.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
aberration
Apparent changes in the position of a celestial body, brought about by the movement of the earth in relation to it.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun 1. aberration - a state or condition markedly different from the normaberration - a state or condition markedly different from the norm
aberrance, aberrancy, deviance
abnormalcy, abnormality - an abnormal physical condition resulting from defective genes or developmental deficiencies
chromosomal aberration, chromosomal anomaly, chromosonal disorder, chrosomal abnormality - any change in the normal structure or number of chromosomes; often results in physical or mental abnormalities
deflection, warp - a twist or aberration; especially a perverse or abnormal way of judging or acting
2. aberration - a disorder in one's mental stateaberration - a disorder in one's mental state 
folie, mental disorder, mental disturbance, psychological disorder, disturbance - (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness
3. aberration - an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good imageaberration - an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image
optical aberration, distortion
chromatic aberration - an optical aberration in which the image has colored fringes
optical phenomenon - a physical phenomenon related to or involving light
spherical aberration - an optical aberration resulting in a distorted image
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
aberration
noun
1. anomaly, exception, defect, abnormality, inconsistency, deviation, quirk, peculiarity, divergence, departure, irregularity, incongruity The incident was not just an aberration, not just a single incident.
2. oddity, abnormality, rarity, peculiarity, phenomenon, freak Single people are treated as an aberration and made to pay extra.
3. lapse, mistake, error an aberration of judgment
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
aberrationnoun
1. A departing from what is prescribed:
departure, deviation, divergence, divergency, diversion.
2. The condition of being abnormal:
aberrance, aberrancy, abnormality, anomaly, deviance, deviancy, deviation, irregularity, preternaturalness, unnaturalness.
3. Psychology. Serious mental illness or disorder impairing a person's capacity to function normally and safely:
brainsickness, craziness, dementia, derangement, disturbance, insaneness, insanity, lunacy, madness, mental illness, psychopathy, unbalance.
Psychiatry: mania.
Psychology: alienation.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSpanish / Espa;olSelect a language:
aberraci;n
aberration [;;be;re;;;n] N ; aberraci;n f
mental aberration ; enajenaci;n f mental
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
ab·er·ra·tion
n. aberraci;n.
1. visi;n defectuosa o imperfecta;
chromatic ___ ; ___ crom;tica
2. desviaci;n de lo normal;
3. trastorno mental;
mental ___ ; ___ mental.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012