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Webster 1913 Edition


Normal

Nor′mal

(nôr′mal)
,
Adj.
[L.
normalis
, fr.
norma
rule, pattern, carpenter’s square; prob. akin to
noscere
to know; cf. Gr.
γνώριμοσ
well known,
γνώμων
gnomon, also, carpenter's square: cf. F.
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.)
According to a square or rule; perpendicular; forming a right angle;
as, a line
normal
to the base
. Specifically: Of or pertaining to a normal.
3.
(Chem.)
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.)
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 bound to 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

(nôr′mal)
,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
normale
,
ligne normale
. See
Normal
,
Adj.
]
1.
(Geom.)
Any perpendicular.
2.
(Geom.)
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.
☞ 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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Normal

NOR'MAL

,
Adj.
[L. a square, a rule.]
1.
According to a square or rule; perpendicular; forming a right angle.
2.
According to a rule or principle.
3.
Relating to rudiments or elements; teaching rudiments or first principles; as normal schools in France.

Definition 2024


Normal

Normal

See also: normal and normál

German

Noun

Normal n (genitive Normals, plural Normale)

  1. (sciences) standard

Declension

normal

normal

See also: Normal and normál

English

Adjective

normal (comparative more normal, superlative most normal)

  1. According to norms or rules.
    Organize the data into third normal form.
  2. Healthy; not sick or ill.
    John is feeling normal again.
  3. (Of a school) teaching teachers how to teach (to certain norms).
    My grandmother attended Mankato State Normal School.
  4. (chemistry) Of, relating to, or being a solution containing one equivalent weight of solute per litre of solution.
  5. (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.
  6. (physics, of a mode in an oscillating system) In which all parts of an object vibrate at the same frequency (see normal mode).
  7. (rail transport, of points) in the default position, set for the most frequently used route.
  8. (geometry) Perpendicular to a tangent line or derivative of a surface in Euclidean space.
    • The interior normal vector of a ideal perfect sphere will always point toward the center, and the exterior normal vector directly away, and both will always be co-linear with the ray whose' tip ends at the point of intersection, which is the intersection of all three sets of points.
  9. (mathematics) Adhering to or being what is considered natural or regular in a particular field or context:
    1. (of a real number) Whose digits, in any base representation, enjoy a uniform distribution.
    2. (algebra, of a subgroup) With cosets which form a group.
    3. (algebra, of a field extension of a field K) Which is the splitting field of a family of polynomials in K.
    4. (probability theory, statistics, of a distribution) Which has a very specific bell curve shape.
    5. (complex analysis, of a family of continuous functions) Which is pre-compact.
    6. (set theory, of a function from the ordinals to the ordinals) Which is strictly monotonically increasing and continuous with respect to the order topology.
    7. (linear algebra, of a matrix) Which commutes with its conjugate transpose.
    8. (functional analysis, of a Hilbert space operator) Which commutes with its adjoint.
    9. (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.
  10. (topology, of a topology) In which disjoint closed sets can be separated by disjoint neighborhoods.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Usage notes

  • Warning: normal, when used to describe a majority group of people, can be considered offensive to those who don't consider membership of their own minority to be unusual. Care should be taken when juxtaposing normal, particularly with stereotypical labels, to avoid undue insult.

Noun

normal (countable and uncountable, plural normals)

  1. (geometry) A line or vector that is perpendicular to another line, surface, or plane.
  2. (slang, countable) A person who is normal, who fits into mainstream society, as opposed to those who live alternative lifestyles.
  3. (uncountable) The usual state.
    His workload is now back to normal.
    Heavy workload is the new normal.

Synonyms

  • (normal person): see Wikisaurus:mainstreamer

Translations


Catalan

Etymology

From French normal.

Adjective

normal m, f (masculine and feminine plural normals)

  1. normal

Antonyms


French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin normālis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

normal m (feminine singular normale, masculine plural normaux, feminine plural normales)

  1. normal (according to norms, usual, pertaining to a school to teach teachers how to teach)

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms


German

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /nɔʁˈmaːl/
  • Rhymes: -aːl

Adjective

normal (comparative normaler, superlative am normalsten)

  1. normal

Derived terms

Declension


Ladin

Adjective

normal m (feminine singular normala, masculine plural normai, feminine plural normales)

  1. normal

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin normālis.

Adjective

normal (neuter singular normalt, definite singular and plural normale)

  1. normal, ordinary

Antonyms

Derived terms

References


Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin normālis.

Adjective

normal (neuter singular normalt, definite singular and plural normale)

  1. normal, ordinary

Antonyms

Derived terms

References


Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin normālis.

Pronunciation

  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /nɔɾ.ˈmaɫ/
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /noʁ.ˈmaw/
  • Hyphenation: nor‧mal

Adjective

normal m, f (plural normais, comparable)

  1. normal, standard, regular

Related terms


Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French normal, Latin normālis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /norˈmal/

Adjective

normal m, n (feminine singular normală, masculine plural normali, feminine and neuter plural normale)

  1. normal

Adverb

normal

  1. normally


Spanish

Adjective

normal m, f (plural normales)

  1. normal, standard, regular
  2. (geometry) perpendicular

Synonyms

Antonyms

Noun

normal f (plural normales)

  1. (education) a school for becoming a teacher

Related terms


Swedish

Etymology

norm + -al

Pronunciation

Adjective

normal (comparative normalare, superlative normalast)

  1. normal

Declension

Inflection of normal
Indefinite/attributive Positive Comparative Superlative2
Common singular normal normalare normalast
Neuter singular normalt normalare normalast
Plural normala normalare normalast
Definite Positive Comparative Superlative
Masculine singular1 normale normalare normalaste
All normala normalare normalaste
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.
2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in an attributive role.

Related terms

Antonyms

Noun

normal c

  1. a normal, a line which is perpendicular to another line or to a surface

Declension

Inflection of normal 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative normal normalen normaler normalerna
Genitive normals normalens normalers normalernas

Antonyms