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).

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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to perturbed

bothered, annoyed, irritated, upset, flustered, vexed, anxious, restless, uneasy

Example sentences from the Web for perturbed

British Dictionary definitions for perturbed

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, adjectiveperturbably, adverbperturbing, adjectiveperturbingly, adverb

Word Origin for perturb

C14: from Old French pertourber, from Latin perturbāre to confuse, from per- (intensive) + turbāre to agitate, from turba confusion
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012