reflection
the act of reflecting, as in casting back a light or heat, mirroring, or giving back or showing an image; the state of being reflected in this way.
an image; representation; counterpart.
a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.
a thought occurring in consideration or meditation.
an unfavorable remark or observation.
the casting of some imputation or reproach.
Physics, Optics.
the return of light, heat, sound, etc., after striking a surface.
something so reflected, as heat or especially light.
Mathematics.
(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.
(in space) the replacement of each point on one side of a plane by the symmetric point on the other side of the plane.
Anatomy. the bending or folding back of a part upon itself.
Origin of reflection
1- Also especially British, re·flex·ion .
Other words for reflection
Other words from reflection
- 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
Words that may be confused with reflection
- diffraction, diffusion, reflection , rarefaction, refraction
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use reflection in a sentence
A lot of your reflections on the classics are pretty intense, have you ever thought about being a film critic?
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire | William O’Connor | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe main article called Reflections on the Final Crusade outlines in prophetic terms just how ISIS will crush Christianity.
In a new memoir, Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crises, Geithner offers his take on what really happened.
Speed Read: The Juiciest Bits From Timothy Geithner’s New Memoir | William O’Connor | May 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHis works are not merely windows into Victorian life, but direct reflections of it.
Were these people cool because they changed society, or were they merely the most prominent reflections of its changing face?
The 100 Coolest Americans Gather at the National Portrait Gallery | William O’Connor | February 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He was in the midst of his reflections when there came a rap at his door, which the next moment was flung open.
Confidence | Henry JamesAt this point in his reflections he became aware that Colton was turning his head with a sort of slow significance.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonThey consisted of travels, reflections, plans of literary works, and personal anecdotes.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. AbbottThe moon had risen over the lake and the water now only showed broken reflections of its disc.
Honey-Bee | Anatole FranceNor was it only in Grub Street tracts that such reflections were to be found.
The History of England from the Accession of James II. | Thomas Babington Macaulay
British Dictionary definitions for reflection
less commonly reflexion
/ (rɪˈflɛkʃən) /
the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected
something reflected or the image so produced, as by a mirror
careful or long consideration or thought
implicit or explicit attribution of discredit or blame
maths a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed or which changes the sign of one of the variables
anatomy the bending back of a structure or part upon itself
Derived forms of reflection
- reflectional or reflexional, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for reflection
[ rĭ-flĕk′shən ]
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.
Something, such as sound, light, or heat, that is reflected.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for reflection
A bouncing of light off a surface. People see themselves in mirrors through reflection. (Compare refraction.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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