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n. 1. A deviation from what is typical or normal: an election that was an aberration from usual state politics. See Synonyms at deviation. 2. A departure from what is considered natural or proper: "Throughout history, the beast with a taste for human flesh has been regarded as an aberration, even as an outlaw" (Philip Caputo). 3. An abnormal, usually temporary alteration in one's mental state. 4. a. A defect of focus, such as blurring in an image. b. An imperfect image caused by a physical defect in an optical element, as in a lens. 5. The apparent displacement of the position of a celestial body in the direction of motion of an observer on Earth, caused by the motion of Earth and the finite velocity of light. 6. Genetics A deviation in the normal structure or number of chromosomes in an organism. [Latin aberrātiō, aberrātiōn-, diversion, from aberrātus, past participle of aberrāre, to go astray : ab-, away from; see AB-1 + errāre, to stray; see ers- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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