Definition

1. Noun:
   • A state of anxiety or unease: A mental or emotional condition characterized by worry, nervousness, or agitation.
   • A disturbance or disruption: An act or instance of causing disorder, interruption, or malfunction in a system, process, or state of calm.
   • (Physics) A secondary influence: A small force or influence that causes a system to deviate slightly from its regular or predicted motion or state.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The news caused great perturbation among the citizens. (The news created a state of significant anxiety among the people.)
  • Any perturbation in the electrical grid can cause a blackout. (Any disruption in the electrical grid can lead to a power failure.)
  • The astronomer calculated the orbit, accounting for gravitational perturbation from a nearby planet. (The astronomer computed the path, considering the slight gravitational influence from a neighboring planet.)

Advanced Usage

• "source of perturbation": the origin or cause of a disturbance.
  • The loud construction noise was a constant source of perturbation for the students.
• "emotional perturbation": a state of being emotionally unsettled or distressed.
  • She tried to hide her emotional perturbation after the difficult meeting.

Variants and Related Words

• Perturb (verb): To make someone anxious or unsettled; to disturb or disrupt the normal state of a system.
  • The strange sounds in the night perturbed the campers.
• Perturbed (adjective): Anxious or unsettled.
  • He had a perturbed expression on his face.

Synonyms

• Agitation: A state of nervous excitement or anxiety.
• Disruption: An interruption to the regular flow or sequence of something.
• Disturbance: The interruption of a settled and peaceful condition.

Related Phrases

• State of perturbation: A condition of being disturbed or anxious.
  • The sudden market crash left investors in a state of perturbation.

Related Idioms

• To cause no little perturbation: To cause considerable worry or disturbance.
  • The CEO's sudden resignation caused no little perturbation within the company.

Noun

1. the act of causing disorder
2. a disposition that is confused or nervous and upset
3. activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
   • the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation and emotional upset
   • he looked around for the source of the disturbance
   • there was a disturbance of neural function
4. (physics) a secondary influence on a system that causes it to deviate slightly
5. an unhappy and worried mental state
   • there was too much anger and disturbance
   • she didn't realize the upset she caused me