re flection

re·flec·tion

[ri-flek-shuhn]
noun
1.
the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
2.
an image; representation; counterpart.
3.
a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.
4.
a thought occurring in consideration or meditation.
5.
an unfavorable remark or observation.
6.
the casting of some imputation or reproach.
7.
Physics, Optics.
a.
the return of light, heat, sound, etc., after striking a surface.
b.
something so reflected, as heat or especially light.
8.
Mathematics.
a.
(in a plane) the replacement of each point on one side of a line by the point symmetrically placed on the other side of the line.
b.
(in space) the replacement of each point on one side of a plane by the symmetric point on the other side of the plane.
9.
Anatomy. the bending or folding back of a part upon itself.
Also, especially British, reflexion.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin reflexiōn- (stem of reflexiō) a bending back, equivalent to Latin reflex(us) (see reflex) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms
re·flec·tion·al, adjective
re·flec·tion·less, adjective
in·ter·re·flec·tion, noun
non·re·flec·tion, noun
o·ver·re·flec·tion, noun
self-re·flec·tion, noun
su·per·re·flec·tion, noun

Can be confused: diffraction, diffusion, reflection, rarefaction, refraction.

Synonyms
3. meditation, rumination, deliberation, cogitation, study, thinking. 5. imputation, aspersion, reproach, criticism.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Re flection is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
reflection or reflexion (rɪˈflɛkʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected
2.  something reflected or the image so produced, as by a mirror
3.  careful or long consideration or thought
4.  implicit or explicit attribution of discredit or blame
5.  maths a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed or which changes the sign of one of the variables
6.  anatomy the bending back of a structure or part upon itself
 
reflexion or reflexion
 
—n
 
re'flectional or reflexion
 
—adj
 
re'flexional or reflexion
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

reflection
late 14c., in reference to surfaces, from L.L. reflexionem (nom. reflexio) "a reflection," lit. "a bending back," from L. reflex-, pp. stem of reflectere, from re- "back" + flectere "to bend." Meaning "remark made after turning back one's thought on some subject" is from 1650s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

reflection re·flec·tion (rĭ-flěk'shən)
n.

  1. The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.

  2. Something, such as light, radiant heat, sound, or an image, that is reflected.

  3. The folding of a membrane from the wall of a cavity over an organ and back to the wall.

  4. The folds so made.

  5. Mental concentration; careful consideration.

  6. A thought or an opinion resulting from such consideration.

re·flec'tion·al adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
reflection   (rĭ-flěk'shən)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. The change in direction of a wave, such as a light or sound wave, away from a boundary the wave encounters. Reflected waves remain in their original medium rather than entering the medium they encounter. ◇ According to the law of reflection, the angle of reflection of a reflected wave is equal to its angle of incidence. Compare refraction. See more at wave.

  2. Something, such as sound, light, or heat, that is reflected.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

reflection definition


A bouncing of light off a surface. People see themselves in mirrors through reflection. (Compare refraction.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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