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anomalies - 2 dictionary results

a⋅nom⋅a⋅ly

  [uh-nom-uh-lee]
Use anomalies in a Sentence
–noun, plural -lies.
1. a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form.
2. someone or something anomalous: With his quiet nature, he was an anomaly in his exuberant family.
3. an odd, peculiar, or strange condition, situation, quality, etc.
4. an incongruity or inconsistency.
5. Astronomy. 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.
6. Meteorology. the amount of deviation of a meteorological quantity from the accepted normal value of that quantity.
7. Grammar. irregularity.
Origin:
1565–75; < L anōmalia < Gk anōmalía, equiv. to anmal(os) anomalous + -ia -ia

Synonyms:
1, 2. abnormality, exception, peculiarity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To anomalies
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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