re·flex

[adj., n. ree-fleks; v. ri-fleks]
adjective
1.
Physiology. noting or pertaining to an involuntary response to a stimulus, the nerve impulse from a receptor being transmitted inward to a nerve center that in turn transmits it outward to an effector.
2.
occurring in reaction; responsive.
3.
cast back; reflected, as light, color, etc.
4.
bent or turned back.
5.
designating a radio apparatus in which the same circuit or part performs two functions.
noun
6.
Physiology.
a.
Also called reflex act. movement caused by a reflex response.
b.
Also called reflex action. the entire physiological process activating such movement.
7.
any automatic, unthinking, often habitual behavior or response.
8.
the reflection or image of an object, as exhibited by a mirror or the like.
9.
a reproduction, as if in a mirror.
10.
a copy; adaptation.
11.
reflected light, color, etc.
12.
Historical Linguistics. an element in a language, as a sound, that has developed from a corresponding element in an earlier form of the language: The (ō) in “stone” is a reflex of Old English ā.
13.
a reflex radio receiver.
14.
a reflex camera.
00:10
Reflex is always a great word to know.
So is vicarious. Does it mean:
acting independently of or done or occurring without volition
noting or pertaining to a situation in which one organ performs part of the functions normally performed by another
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verb (used with object)
15.
to subject to a reflex process.
16.
to bend, turn, or fold back.
17.
to arrange in a reflex system.
Origin:
1500–10; < Latin reflexus bent back, past participle of reflectere to reflect

Related forms
re·flex·ly, adverb
re·flex·ness, noun
mul·ti·re·flex, noun
sem·i·re·flex, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
reflex
 
—n
1.  a.  an immediate involuntary response, esp one that is innate, such as coughing or removal of the hand from a hot surface, evoked by a given stimulus
 b.  See also reflex arc (as modifier): a reflex action
2.  a.  a mechanical response to a particular situation, involving no conscious decision
 b.  (as modifier): a reflex response
3.  a reflection; an image produced by or as if by reflection
4.  a speech element derived from a corresponding form in an earlier state of the language: "sorrow" is a reflex of Middle English "sorwe"
 
—adj
5.  maths (of an angle) between 180° and 360°
6.  (prenominal) turned, reflected, or bent backwards
 
—vb
7.  (tr) to bend, turn, or reflect backwards
 
[C16: from Latin reflexus bent back, from reflectere to reflect]
 
re'flexible
 
—adj
 
reflexi'bility
 
—n

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

reflex
1508, "reflection of light," from the verb meaning "refract, deflect" (c.1380), from L.L. reflexus "a bending back," prop. pp. of reflectere (see reflection). Meaning "involuntary nerve stimulation" first recorded 1877, from reflex action (1833). Reflexology as a psychological
theory is attested from 1927 (from Ger. reflexologie, 1912); as a foot massage technique, first recorded 1976.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

reflex re·flex (rē'flěks')
n.

  1. An involuntary physiological response to a stimulus.

  2. An unlearned or instinctive response to a stimulus.

  3. Something, such as light or heat, that is reflected.

adj.

  1. Being an involuntary action or response, such as a sneeze, blink, or hiccup.

  2. Bent, turned, or thrown back; reflected.

v. re·flexed, re·flex·ing, re·flex·es (rĭ-flěks')

  1. To cause to undergo a reflex process.

  2. To reflect.

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
reflex   (rē'flěks')  Pronunciation Key 

  1. An involuntary physiological response to a stimulus, as the withdrawal of a body part from burning heat.

  2. An unlearned or instinctive response to a stimulus. Also called unconditioned response. See more at classical conditioning.


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

reflex definition


An action or movement not controlled by conscious thought. A reflex may be anything from a hiccup to the involuntary response of a body part, such as the action that occurs in the knee-jerk reflex.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Most of all, it means adopting the reflex of openness in public affairs.
Some showed no startle reflex at all to some rather unpleasant stimuli.
It is easy to blame the lack of accountability in a culture whose reflex is to
  conceal rather than reveal.
Stabbing those who annoyed him soon became a reflex.
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