Perturb (Verb)
Meaning 1
Disturb or interfere with the usual path of an electron or atom; "The electrons were perturbed by the passing ion".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- The strong electromagnetic field perturbs the orbit of the electrons, affecting their stability in the molecule.
- External vibrations can perturb the atoms in a crystal lattice, altering their bonding properties.
- A magnetic field will perturb the motion of charged particles, such as alpha particles or electrons, altering their trajectory.
- Quantum fluctuations can perturb the behavior of subatomic particles, making their precise positions uncertain.
- A collision with a high-energy photon may perturb the state of an atom, causing it to shift to a higher energy level.
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Meaning 2
Throw into great confusion or disorder; "Fundamentalists threaten to perturb the social order".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The sudden revelation of the scandal threatened to perturb the carefully crafted image of the company.
- The unexpected event would perturb the delicate balance of power in the region.
- The protesters' actions were designed to perturb the normal functioning of the institution.
- Her provocative statements were likely to perturb the close-knit community.
- The radical proposal was feared to perturb the established norms of behavior.
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Meaning 3
Disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed; "She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill".
Classification
Verbs of feeling.
Examples
- The news of the company's bankruptcy perturbed the investors who had put in a large sum of money.
- Her recent behavior has perturbed the family members who are worried about her well-being.
- The unusual noises in the house perturbed the new homeowners who couldn't sleep at night.
- The thought of public speaking perturbed the young student who had stage fright.
- The politician's sudden change in policy perturbed her supporters who felt betrayed.
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Meaning 4
Cause a celestial body to deviate from a theoretically regular orbital motion, especially as a result of interposed or extraordinary gravitational pull; "The orbits of these stars were perturbed by the passings of a comet".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- The massive comet's gravitational pull will perturb the orbit of the nearby minor planet, causing it to take a longer path around the sun.
- The nearby galaxy's gravitational forces began to perturb the orbital motion of the star clusters within our own galaxy.
- These perturbations, caused by nearby planetary bodies, are what astronomers look for to detect exoplanets with a unique composition.
- A small celestial body with an unknown mass perturbed the orbit of the nearby moon, resulting in unpredictable tidal patterns.
- Gravitational forces from the black hole will perturb the orbital motion of nearby stars, creating detectable shifts in their light spectra.