perturb

[ per-turb ]
/ pərˈtɜrb /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR perturb ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate.
to throw into great disorder; derange.
Astronomy. to cause perturbation in the orbit of (a celestial body).

Origin of perturb

1325–75; Middle English perturben (< Old French perturber) < Latin perturbāre to throw into confusion, equivalent to per- per- + turbāre to disturb; see turbid

OTHER WORDS FROM perturb

Words nearby perturb

perthite, perthshire, pertinacious, pertinacity, pertinent, perturb, perturbation, perturbation theory, perturbative, pertussis, pertussis immune globulin

Words related to perturbable

tricky, jumpy, testy, precarious, sensitive, uptight, volatile, delicate, ticklish, risky, dicey, hypersensitive, bad-tempered, cantankerous, captious, choleric, cranky, cross, grouchy, grumpy

British Dictionary definitions for perturbable

perturb
/ (pəˈtɜːb) /

verb (tr; often passive)

to disturb the composure of; trouble
to throw into disorder
physics astronomy to cause (a planet, electron, etc) to undergo a perturbation

Derived forms of perturb

perturbable, adjective perturbably, adverb perturbing, adjective perturbingly, adverb

Word Origin for perturb

C14: from Old French pertourber, from Latin perturbāre to confuse, from per- (intensive) + turbāre to agitate, from turba confusion