n]
| 1. | the act of deviating. |
| 2. | departure from a standard or norm. |
| 3. | Statistics. the difference between one of a set of values and some fixed value, usually the mean of the set. |
| 4. | Navigation. the error of a magnetic compass, as that of a ship, on a given heading as a result of local magnetism. Compare variation (def. 8). |
| 5. | Optics.
|
| 6. | departure or divergence from an established dogma or ideology, esp. a Communist one. |
de·vi·ate (dē'vē-āt') v. de·vi·at·ed, de·vi·at·ing, de·vi·ates v. intr.
To cause to turn aside or differ. n. (-ĭt) A deviant. [Late Latin dēviāre, dēviāt- : Latin dē-, de- + Latin via, road; see wegh- in Indo-European roots.] de'vi·a'tor n., de'vi·a·to'ry (-ə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj. |
deviation de·vi·a·tion (dē'vē-ā'shən)
n.
A turning away or aside from a normal course.
An abnormality.
Deviant behavior or attitudes.
The difference, especially the absolute difference, between one number in a set and the mean of the set.