aberration

[ ab-uh-rey-shuhn ]
/ ˌæb əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

Origin of aberration

1585–95; < Latin aberrātiōn- (stem of aberrātiō), equivalent to aberrāt(us), past participle of aberrāre (see aberrant) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM aberration

ab·er·ra·tion·al, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for aberration

British Dictionary definitions for aberration

aberration
/ (ˌæbəˈreɪʃən) /

noun

deviation from what is normal, expected, or usual
departure from truth, morality, etc
a lapse in control of one's mental faculties
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
astronomy the apparent displacement of a celestial body due to the finite speed of light and the motion of the observer with the earth

Medical definitions for aberration

aberration
[ ăb′ə-rāshən ]

n.

A departure from the normal or typical.
A psychological disorder or abnormal alteration in one's mental state.
A defect of focus, such as blurring in an image.
An imperfect image caused by a physical defect in an optical element, as in a lens.
A deviation in the normal genetic structure or number of chromosomes in an organism.

Scientific definitions for aberration

aberration
[ ăb′ə-rāshən ]

A deviation in the normal structure or number of chromosomes in an organism.
A defect in a lens or mirror that prevents light rays from being focused at a single point and results in a distorted or blurred image.♦ Aberration that results in distortion of color is called chromatic aberration.♦ Aberration that is caused by imperfections in the surface or shape of a spherical mirror or lens is called spherical aberration. See also astigmatism coma2.