noun 1.a deviation from accuracy or correctness; a mistake, as in action or speech: His speech contained several factual errors.
2.belief in something untrue; the holding of mistaken opinions.
3.the condition of believing what is not true: in error about the date.
4.a moral offense; wrongdoing; sin.
5.Baseball. a misplay that enables a base runner to reach base safely or advance a base, or a batter to have a turn at bat prolonged, as the dropping of a ball batted in the air, the fumbling of a batted or thrown ball, or the throwing of a wild ball, but not including a passed ball or wild pitch.
EXPAND6.Mathematics. the difference between the observed or approximately determined value and the true value of a quantity.
7.Law. a.a mistake in a matter of fact or law in a case tried in a court of record.
8.Philately. a stamp distinguished by an error or errors in design, engraving, selection of inks, or setting up of the printing apparatus.
Compare freak1 (def. 5), variety (def. 8). COLLAPSE