aberration

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of wandering; deviation from truth, moral rectitude; abnormal; divergence from the straight, correct, proper, normal, or from the natural state.
2. (countable, uncountable) The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus; a defect in a focusing mechanism that prevents the intended focal point.
3. (countable, uncountable) A small periodical change of the apparent positions of the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer.
4. (broadly, countable, uncountable) A small periodical change of the apparent positions of the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer.
5. (countable, uncountable) A partial alienation of reason.
6. (countable, uncountable) Any creature with supernatural powers not found in the organized classes of beings in a given setting.
7. (countable, uncountable) A mental disorder, especially one of a minor or temporary character.
8. (countable, uncountable) Atypical development or structure; deviation from the normal type; an aberrant organ.
9. (countable, uncountable) A deviation of a tissue, organ or mental functions from what is considered to be within the normal range.
10. (countable, uncountable) A defect in an image produced by an optical or electrostatic lens system.

Synonyms

error

mistake

deviation

aberrance

aberrancy

abnormality

optical aberration

craziness

deflection

distortion

wrong path

deviance

peculiarity

perversion

wrong track

bug

🐛

wandering path

blunder

diversion

derangement

lunacy

madness

wrong way

mania

fault

detour

frenzy

inaccuracy

insanity

irrationality

irregularity

kinkiness

leeway

mental alienation

misplay

nonsense

outrage

paralogism

preposterousness

revoke

senselessness

sheer

skewness

straying

stumble

superstition

swerving

unreasonableness

wrinkle

mental aberration

Translations

aberration

aberración

Aberration

aberrazione

aberração

aberratie

aberració

afwijking

Abweichung

sapınç

εκτροπή

παρέκκλιση

Abirrung

erreur

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌæb.əˈɹeɪ.ʃn̩/

Etymology

Cognate with French: aberration

In summary

A learned borrowing from Latin aberrātiō(n) (“relief, diversion”), first attested in 1594, from aberrō (“wander away, go astray”), from ab (“away”) + errō (“wander”). Compare French aberration. By surface analysis, aberrat(e) + -ion.