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de•vi•a•tion

Pronunciation: (dē"vē-ā'shun), [key]
—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. Navig.the error of a magnetic compass, as that of a ship, on a given heading as a result of local magnetism. Cf. variation (def. 8).
5. Optics.
a. Also called deflection. the bending of rays of light away from a straight line.
b. See angle of deviation.
6. departure or divergence from an established dogma or ideology, esp. a Communist one.

deviate

deviationism

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deviation (Thesaurus)

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de•vi•a•tion

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