anomaly

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a·nom·a·ly

(ə-nŏm′ə-lē)

n. pl. a·nom·a·lies

1. Deviation or departure from the normal or common order, form, or rule.

2. One that is peculiar, irregular, abnormal, or difficult to classify: "Both men are anomalies: they have ... likable personalities but each has made his reputation as a heavy" (David Pauly).

3. Astronomy The angular deviation, as observed from the sun, of a planet from its perihelion.

a·nom′a·lis′tic adj.

a·nom′a·lis′ti·cal·ly adv.

anomaly

(əˈnɒməlɪ)

n, pl -lies

1. something anomalous

2. deviation from the normal or usual order, type, etc; irregularity

3. (Astronomy) deviation from the normal or usual order, type, etc; irregularity

4. (Astronomy) astronomy

a. Also called: true anomaly the angle between a planet, the sun, and the previous perihelion of the planet

b. Also called: eccentric anomaly the angle between the periapsis of a particular point on a circle round the orbit as seen from the centre of the orbit. This point is obtained by producing a perpendicular to the major axis of the ellipse through the orbiting body until it reaches the circumference of the circle

c. Also called: mean anomaly the angle between the periapsis of an orbit and the position of an imaginary body orbiting at a constant angular speed and in the same period as the real orbiting body

5. (Geological Science) geology

a. Also called: gravity anomaly a deviation from the normal value of gravity at the earth's surface, caused by density differences at depth, for example those caused by a buried mineral body

b. Also called: magnetic anomaly a magnetic field, for example one produced by a buried mineral body, that deviates from an expected or standard value, usually that of the earth's magnetic field

aˌnomaˈlistic, aˌnomaˈlistical adj

aˌnomaˈlistically adv

a•nom•a•ly

(əˈnɒm ə li)

n., pl. -lies.

1. a deviation from the common type, rule, arrangement, or form; irregularity; abnormality.

2. someone or something anomalous.

3. an unexpected, unusual, or strange condition, situation, or quality.

4. Astron. a quantity measured in degrees, defining the position of an orbiting body with respect to the point at which it is nearest to or farthest from its primary.

[1565–75; < Latin < Greek]

a·nom·a·ly

(ə-nŏm′ə-lē)

Something that is unusual, irregular, or abnormal: Flooding is an anomaly in desert regions of Africa.

anomalous adjective

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Noun	1.	anomaly - deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule anomalousness birth defect, congenital abnormality, congenital anomaly, congenital defect, congenital disorder - a defect that is present at birth abnormalcy, abnormality - an abnormal physical condition resulting from defective genes or developmental deficiencies
	2.	anomaly - a person who is unusual unusual person individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" anachronism - a person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age aberrant - one whose behavior departs substantially from the norm of a group albino - a person with congenital albinism: white hair and milky skin; eyes are usually pink automaton, zombi, zombie - someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way; "only an automaton wouldn't have noticed" eccentric, eccentric person, oddball, flake, geek - a person with an unusual or odd personality behemoth, colossus, goliath, monster, giant - someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful Jekyll and Hyde - someone with two personalities - one good and one evil kook, odd fellow, odd fish, odd man out, queer bird, queer duck - someone regarded as eccentric or crazy and standing out from a group misfit - someone unable to adapt to their circumstances rara avis, rare bird - a rare or unique person transexual, transsexual - a person who has undergone a sex change operation ugly duckling - an ugly or unpromising child who grows into a beautiful or worthy person
	3.	anomaly - (astronomy) position of a planet as defined by its angular distance from its perihelion (as observed from the sun) astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole position, place - the particular portion of space occupied by something; "he put the lamp back in its place"