Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - error

~ n 1 a mistake, especially a mistake in speaking or writing or a mistake that causes serious problems  (an essay full of spelling errors | Heath committed a grave error by making concessions to the right wing of the party. | computer/driver etc error)  (Mrs Leigh's huge phone bill was the result of a computer error. | human error (=made by a person rather than a machine) | commit an error (=make a mistake))  (Heath committed an error by making concessions to extremists. | a grave error (=a serious mistake)) 2 error of judgment a mistake in the way that you examine a situation and decide what to do 3 see the error of your ways literary or humorous to realize that you have been behaving badly and decide to stop 4 be in error to have made a mistake, especially when making an official decision  (The company has admitted that they were in error.) 5 in error if you do something in error, it is wrong but you did not intend to do it  (The letter was opened in error.)  (- compare mistake1, - see also trial and error trial1 (3))