verb
perturb
To change a system or calculation slightly.
Small temperature changes perturb the balance of this chemical system.
Etymology
Latin perturbare means to disturb or throw into confusion. Technical usage narrows the disturbance to a small change introduced into a system or calculation.
More examples
- Researchers perturb the model's inputs to test its stability.
- The nearby planet slightly perturbs the satellite's orbit.
- Rounding errors can perturb the result of a complex calculation.
Forms
perturb · perturbs · perturbed · perturbing
perturbation noun — A small change in a system.