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reflection - 8 dictionary results

re⋅flec⋅tion

  [ri-flek-shuhn]
Use reflection in a Sentence
–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 esp. 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; ME < LL reflexiōn- (s. of reflexiō) a bending back, equiv. to L reflex(us) (see reflex ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
re⋅flec⋅tion⋅al, adjective
re⋅flec⋅tion⋅less, adjective

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. 2009.
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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.
    1. Mental concentration; careful consideration.
    2. A thought or an opinion resulting from such consideration.
    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.
  4. An indirect expression of censure or discredit: a reflection on his integrity.
  5. A manifestation or result: Her achievements are a reflection of her courage.
  6. Anatomy
    1. The folding of a membrane from the wall of a cavity over an organ and back to the wall.
    2. The folds so made.
re·flec'tion·al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Reflection

Re*flec"tion\ (r?*fl?k"sh?n), n. [L. reflexio: cf. F. r['e]flexion. See Riflect.] [Written also reflexion.]

1. The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected. Specifically: (a) The return of rays, beams, sound, or the like, from a surface. See Angle of reflection, below.

The eye sees not itself, But by reflection, by some other things. --Shak. (b) The reverting of the mind to that which has already occupied it; continued consideration; meditation; contemplation; hence, also, that operation or power of the mind by which it is conscious of its own acts or states; the capacity for judging rationally, especially in view of a moral rule or standard.

By reflection, . . . I would be understood to mean, that notice which the mind takes of its own operations, and the manner of them, by reason whereof there come to be ideas of these operations in the understanding. --Locke.

This delight grows and improves under thought and reflection. --South.

2. Shining; brightness, as of the sun. [Obs.] --Shak.

3. That which is produced by reflection. Specifically: (a) An image given back from a reflecting surface; a reflected counterpart.

As the sun water we can bear, Yet not the sun, but his reflection, there. --Dryden. (b) A part reflected, or turned back, at an angle; as, the reflection of a membrane. (c) Result of meditation; thought or opinion after attentive consideration or contemplation; especially, thoughts suggested by truth.

Job's reflections on his once flourishing estate did at the same time afflict and encourage him. --Atterbury.

4. Censure; reproach cast.

He died; and oh! may no reflection shed Its poisonous venom on the royal dead. --Prior.

5. (Physiol.) The transference of an excitement from one nerve fiber to another by means of the nerve cells, as in reflex action. See Reflex action, under Reflex.

Angle of reflection, the angle which anything, as a ray of light, on leaving a reflecting surface, makes with the perpendicular to the surface.

Angle of total reflection. (Opt.) Same as Critical angle, under Critical.

Syn: Meditation; contemplation; rumination; cogitation; consideration; musing; thinking.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : reflection
Spanish: reflejo; reflexión,
German: das Spiegelbild, die Überlegung,
Japanese: 反映
More Translations »

reflection

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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reflection 
c.1384, 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 1659. The verb reflect is recorded from 1412, originally "to turn aside;" meaning "to turn back" an image or light rays is from 1530; sense of "to turn one's thoughts (back) to" is first attested 1605.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: re·flec·tion
Variant: also British re·flex·ion /ri-'flek-sh&n/
Function: noun
1 : aninstance of reflecting; especially : the return of light or sound waves from a surface
2 : the production of an image by or as if by a mirror
3 a : the action of bending or folding back b : a reflected part or a fold reflection of the peritoneum>
4 : somethingproduced by reflecting; especially : an image given back by a reflecting surface
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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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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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