aberration
noun
A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected; a characteristic that deviates from the normal type; an optical defect in lenses.
Etymology
From Latin aberrare meaning "to wander away from," from ab- (away) + errare (to wander, stray).
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The warm December weather was an aberration from the usual cold."
- 2.
"His rude behavior at the meeting was an aberration; he's usually quite polite."
- 3.
"The telescope suffered from chromatic aberration, distorting colors."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
In optics, chromatic aberration occurs because different colors of light bend at slightly different angles. This was a major problem for early telescopes until achromatic lenses were invented in 1733.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 10 letters (A, B, E, R, R, A, T, I, O, N)
Scrabble Value: 12 points
Tip: The letter pattern in "ABERRATION" appears in many related words.
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