NORMAL

normal

(adjective) conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal; “serve wine at normal room temperature”; “normal diplomatic relations”; “normal working hours”; “normal word order”; “normal curiosity”; “the normal course of events”

normal

(adjective) being approximately average or within certain limits in e.g. intelligence and development; “a perfectly normal child”; “of normal intelligence”; “the most normal person I’ve ever met”

normal

(adjective) in accordance with scientific laws

normal

(adjective) forming a right angle

convention, normal, pattern, rule, formula

(noun) something regarded as a normative example; “the convention of not naming the main character”; “violence is the rule not the exception”; “his formula for impressing visitors”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

normal (comparative normaler or more normal, superlative normalest or most normal)

According to norms or rules or to a regular pattern.

(mathematics) Adhering to or being what is considered natural or regular in a particular field or context

(number theory, of a real number) In whose representation in a given base b ≥ 2, for every positive integer n, the bn possible strings of n digits follow a uniform distribution.

(algebra, of a subgroup) With cosets which form a group.

(algebra, of a field extension of a field K) Which is the splitting field of a family of polynomials in K.

(probability theory, statistics, of a distribution) Which has a very specific bell curve shape; that is or has the qualities of a normal distribution.

(probability theory, statistics, of a random variable, etc.) Which has a normal distribution; which is associated with random variable that has a normal distribution.

(complex analysis, of a family of continuous functions) Which is pre-compact.

(set theory, of a function from the ordinals to the ordinals) Which is strictly monotonically increasing and continuous with respect to the order topology.

(linear algebra, of a matrix) Which commutes with its conjugate transpose.

(functional analysis, of a Hilbert space operator) Which commutes with its adjoint.

(category theory) Being (as a morphism) or containing (as a category) only normal epimorphism(s) or monomorphism(s), that is, those which are the kernel or cokernel of some morphism, respectively.

(topology, of a topology) In which disjoint closed sets can be separated by disjoint neighborhoods.

Usual, healthy; not sick or ill or unlike oneself.

(education, of a school) teaching teachers how to teach (to certain norms)

(chemistry) Of, relating to, or being a solution containing one equivalent weight of solute per litre of solution.

(organic chemistry) Describing a straight chain isomer of an aliphatic hydrocarbon, or an aliphatic compound in which a substituent is in the 1- position of such a hydrocarbon.

(physics, of a mode in an oscillating system) In which all parts of an object vibrate at the same frequency (see normal mode).

(rail transport, of points) In the default position, set for the most frequently used route.

(geometry) Perpendicular to a tangent of a curve or derivative of a surface.

Usage notes

• When used to describe a group of people, normal can be understood as meaning that those not part of the group are strange or freakish. Its usage can therefore be understood as offensive to those it excludes.

Synonyms

• (usual): conventional, customary, ordinary, standard, usual, regular, routine, average, expected, natural, typical, everyday, common, commonplace, general

• (healthy): hale, healthy, well

• (perpendicular): at right angles to, perpendicular, orthogonal

• (statistics): Gaussian, standard normal

Antonyms

• (usual): unconventional, nonstandard, unusual

• (healthy): ill, poorly (British), sick, unwell

• (perpendicular): tangential

• (rail transport): reverse

Noun

normal (countable and uncountable, plural normals)

(geometry) A line or vector that is perpendicular to another line, surface, or plane.

(slang, countable) A person who is normal, who fits into mainstream society, as opposed to those who live alternative lifestyles.

(uncountable) The usual state.

Synonyms

• (normal person): see mainstreamer

Anagrams

• Marlon, Molnar, Morlan

Source: Wiktionary


Nor"mal, a. Etym: [L. normalis, fr. norma rule, pattern, carpenter's square; prob. akin to noscere to know; cf. Gr. normal. See Known, and cf. Abnormal, Enormous.]

1. According to an established norm, rule, or principle; conformed to a type, standard, or regular form; performing the proper functions; not abnormal; regular; natural; analogical. Deviations from the normal type. Hallam.

2. (Geom.)

Definition: According to a square or rule; perpendicular; forming a right angle. Specifically: Of or pertaining to a normal.

3. (Chem.)

Definition: Standard; original; exact; typical. Specifically: (a) (Quantitative Analysis) Denoting a solution of such strength that every cubic centimeter contains the same number of milligrams of the element in question as the number of its molecular weight. (b) (Chem.)

Definition: Denoting certain hypothetical compounds, as acids from which the real acids are obtained by dehydration; thus, normal sulphuric acid and normal nitric acid are respectively S(OH)6, and N(OH)5. (c) (Organ. Chem.) Denoting that series of hydrocarbons in which no carbon atom is united with more than two other carbon atoms; as, normal pentane, hexane, etc. Cf. Iso-. Normal equations (Method of Least Squares), a set of equations of the first degree equal in number to the number of unknown quantities, and derived from the observations by a specified process. The solution of the normal equations gives the most probable values of the unknown quantities.

– Normal group (Geol.), a group of rocks taken as a standard. Lyell.

– Normal place (of a planet or comet) (Astron.), the apparent place in the heavens of a planet or comet at a specified time, the place having been determined by a considerable number of observations, extending perhaps over many days, and so combined that the accidental errors of observation have largely balanced each other.

– Normal school, a school whose methods of instruction are to serve as a model for imitation; an institution for the training of teachers.

Syn.

– Normal, Regular, Ordinary. Regular and ordinary are popular terms of well-known signification; normal has now a more specific sense, arising out of its use in science. A thing is normal, or in its normal state, when strictly conformed to those principles of its constitution which mark its species or to the standard of a healthy and natural condition. It is abnormal when it departs from those principles.

Nor"mal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. normale, ligne normale. See Normal, a.]

1. (Geom.) Any perpendicular.

2. (Geom.)

Definition: A straight line or plane drawn from any point of a curve or surface so as to be perpendicular to the curve or surface at that point.

Note: The term normal is also used to denote the distance along the normal line from the curve to the axis of abscissas or to the center of curvature.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

28 April 2024

POLYGENIC

(adjective) of or relating to an inheritable character that is controlled by several genes at once; of or related to or determined by polygenes


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

There are more than 50 countries that export coffee. They are near the equator, where the climate is conducive to producing coffee beans.

coffee icon