• verb:   cause a celestial body to deviate from a theoretically regular orbital motion, especially as a result of interposed or extraordinary gravitational pull

  Example: "The orbits of these stars were perturbed by the passings of a comet"

• verb:   disturb or interfere with the usual path of an electron or atom

  Example: "The electrons were perturbed by the passing ion"

• verb:   throw into great confusion or disorder

  Example: "Fundamental Islamicists threaten to perturb the social order in Algeria and Egypt"

• verb:   disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

  Example: "She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill"

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