perturb definition

1. disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed
• examples: She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill
2. disturb or interfere with the usual path of an electron or atom
• examples: The electrons were perturbed by the passing ion
3. cause a celestial body to deviate from a theoretically regular orbital motion, especially as a result of interposed or extraordinary gravitational pull
• examples: The orbits of these stars were perturbed by the passings of a comet
4. throw into great confusion or disorder
• examples: Fundamental Islamicists threaten to perturb the social order in Algeria and Egypt