normal
UK /ˈnɔː.məl/ · US /ˈnoɹ.məl/ adjective, noun
Forms normaler normaller normalest normallest normals
- adjective According to norms or rules or to a regular pattern. “Organize the data into third normal form.”
- adjective (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. “A number whose individual digits in a given base representation follow a uniform distribution is said to be simply normal.”
- adjective (algebra, of a subgroup) With cosets which form a group.
- adjective (algebra, of a field extension of a field K) Which is the splitting field of a family of polynomials in K.
- adjective (probability theory, statistics, of a distribution, random variable, etc.) Which has a very specific bell curve shape; that is or has the qualities of a normal distribution.
- adjective (complex analysis, of a family of continuous functions) Which is pre-compact.
- adjective (set theory, of a function from the ordinals to the ordinals) Which is strictly monotonically increasing and continuous with respect to the order topology.
- adjective (linear algebra, of a matrix) Which commutes with its conjugate transpose.
- noun (geometry, countable) A line or vector that is perpendicular to another line, surface, or plane.
- noun (medicine, countable) A person who is healthy, normal, as opposed to one who is morbid.
- noun (slang, countable) A person who is normal, who fits into mainstream society, as opposed to those who live alternative lifestyles.
- noun (countable, uncountable) The usual state. “I was quite ill for a while, but latterly seem to have returned to normal.”
Synonyms
customary ordinary standard typical usual Gaussian standard normal hale healthy well all oak and iron bound buxom fit freck hail hale and hearty in the pink of health lusty sound sound as a barrel convention pattern rule formula
Antonyms
unconventional nonstandard unusual special ill poorly sick unwell ailing bad crank crook abnormal paranormal
Etymology
From Latin normālis (“made according to a carpenter's square; later: according to a rule”), from nōrma (“carpenter's square”), of uncertain origin; equivalent to norm + -al, doublet of normale. The earliest meaning of the word in English was "perpendicular; forming a right angle" like something normālis (“made according to a carpenter's square”), but by Late Latin normālis had also come to mean "according to a rule", from which modern English senses of the word derive: in the 1800s, as people began to quantitatively study things like height, weight and blood pressure, the usual or most common values came to be called "normal", and by extension values regarded as healthy or desirable came to be called "normal" regardless of their usuality.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective 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.
- adjective According to a square or rule; perpendicular; forming a right angle. Specifically: Of or pertaining to a normal.
- noun Any perpendicular.
- noun 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.
Etymology [L. normalis, fr. norma rule, pattern, carpenter's square; prob. akin to noscere to know; cf. Gr. normal. See Known, and cf. Abnormal, Enormous.]
Etymology [Cf. F. normale, ligne normale. See Normal, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “normal”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details