Definition of Aberration

1. Noun. A state or condition markedly different from the norm.


2. Noun. A disorder in one's mental state.

3. Noun. An optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image.
Exact synonyms: Distortion, Optical Aberration
Specialized synonyms: Chromatic Aberration, Spherical Aberration
Generic synonyms: Optical Phenomenon
Derivative terms: Aberrate

Definition of Aberration

1. n. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type.

Definition of Aberration

1. Noun. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. ¹

2. Noun. A partial alienation of reason. ¹

3. Noun. (astronomy) A small periodical change of position in the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer. ¹

4. Noun. (context: optics) 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. ¹

5. Noun. (physiology) A deviation of an organism from the state which is regarded as normal. ¹

6. Noun. A mental disorder, especially one of a minor or temporary character. ¹

7. Noun. (legal) The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B. ¹

8. Noun. (context: zoology botany) Atypical development or structure. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Aberration

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Aberration

1. 1. Any error that results in image degradation. Such errors may be chromatic, spherical, astigmatic chromatic, distortion, or curvature of field: and can result from design or execution, or both. 2. Failure of an optical or electron-optical lens to produce exact geometrical (and chromatic) correspondence between an object and its image. In a video camera tube or cathode-ray tube, aberrations are when the (electrostatic or electromagnetic) lens does not bring the electron beam to sharply focused points uniformly on the target or screen, or to correct geometrical positions, as the beam is deflected. 3. A term which, if used to denote a number of individuals within a species, unequivocally signifies infrasubspecific rank. See: aberration, chromatic, aberration, spherical. (09 Jan 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Aberration

aberrant complex
aberrant ducts
aberrant ductules
aberrant ganglion
aberrant goiter
aberrant haemoglobin
aberrant regeneration
aberrant ventricular conduction
aberrantly
aberrants
aberrate
aberrated
aberrates
aberrating
aberration (current term)
aberrational
aberrationless
aberrations
aberrative
aberred
aberring
aberrometer
aberrs
aberuncate
aberuncated
aberuncates
aberuncating
aberuncator
aberuncators

Literary usage of Aberration

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Scientific Papers by John William Strutt Rayleigh (1902)
"Influence of aberration. Optical Power of Instruments. Our investigations and estimates of resolving power have thus far proceeded upon the supposition that ..."

2. The microscope and its revelations by William Benjamin Carpenter (1856)
"Various means have been devised for reducing the aberration of lenses of spherical ... Thus, the aberration of a plano-convex lens, whose con- rex side is ..."

3. An Introduction to Natural Philosophy: Designed as a Text-book for the Use by Denison Olmsted, Ebenezer Strong Snell (1871)
"Spherical aberration of a Lens.—The production of caustics is an extreme case of what is called spherical aberration. Unless the lens is of small angular ..."

4. Transactions of the American Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting by American Ophthalmological Society (1890)
"To facilitate such separate study, I propose to designate as Symmetrical aberration,1 t/tat defect of the dioptric system of the eye which causes the rays ..."

5. Mathematical and Physical Papers by Sir George Gabriel Stokes, Baron John William Strutt Rayleigh (1880)
"ON THE aberration OF LIGHT. THE general explanation of the phenomenon of aberration is so simple, and the coincidence of the value of the velocity of light ..."

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