definitions

perturb

[ per-turb ]
/ pərˈtɜrb /
||
SEE MORE 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).

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

pertinacious, pertinacity, pertinence, pertinent, pertly, perturb, perturbate, perturbation, perturbation theory, perturbative, perturbed

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
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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 Formsperturbable, 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