verb (used with object)
- to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate.
- to throw into great disorder; derange.
- Astronomy. to cause perturbation in the orbit of (a celestial body).
verb (tr; often passive)
- to disturb the composure of; trouble
- to throw into disorder
- physics astronomy to cause (a planet, electron, etc) to undergo a perturbation
v.late 14c., from Old French perturber “disturb, confuse” (14c.) and directly from Latin perturbare “to confuse, disorder, disturb,” especially of states of the mind, from per- “through” (see per) + turbare “disturb, confuse,” from turba “turmoil, crowd” (see turbid). Related: Perturbed; perturbing.