reflection

re·flec·tion

noun \ri-ˈflek-shən\

: an image that is seen in a mirror or on a shiny surface

: something that shows the effect, existence, or character of something else

: something that causes people to disapprove of a person or thing

Full Definition of REFLECTION

1

:  an instance 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 :  fold

4

:  something produced by reflecting: as

a :  an image given back by a reflecting surface

b :  an effect produced by an influence <the high crime rate is a reflection of our violent society>

5

:  an often obscure or indirect criticism :  reproach <a reflection on his character>

6

:  a thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation

7

:  consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose

8

obsolete :  turning back :  return

9

a :  a transformation of a figure in which each point is replaced by a point symmetric with respect to a line or plane

b :  a transformation that involves reflection in more than one axis of a rectangular coordinate system

— re·flec·tion·al \-shnÉ™l, -shÉ™-n^É™l\ adjective

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Examples of REFLECTION

1. She was looking at her reflection in the mirror.
2. He saw the reflections of the clouds on the lake.

Origin of REFLECTION

Middle English, alteration of reflexion, from Late Latin reflexion-, reflexio act of bending back, from Latin reflectere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to REFLECTION

Synonyms

comment, note, observation, remark

Antonyms

credit, honor

Related Words

analysis, commentary, exposition; aside, obiter dictum; annotation; belief, conviction, eye, feeling, judgment (or judgement), mind, notion, persuasion, sentiment, verdict, view; advice, input

Near Antonyms

boast, glory, jewel, pride, treasure

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

Rhymes with REFLECTION

abjection, advection, affection, bisection, collection, complexion, confection, connection, convection, correction, cross section, C-section, defection, deflection, dejection, detection, direction, ejection, election, erection, infection, inflection, injection, inspection, midsection, objection, perfection, prelection, projection, protection, refection, rejection, resection, selection, subjection, subsection, trajection, transection, trisection

re·flec·tion

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of REFLECTION

1

: an instance 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 <the mesentery is a reflection of the peritoneum>

4

: something produced by reflecting; especially : an image given back by a reflecting surface

Variants of REFLECTION

re·flec·tion also British re·flex·ion \ri-ˈflek-shÉ™n\

reflection

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Change in the direction of propagation of a wave that strikes a boundary between different media through which it cannot pass. When a wave strikes such a boundary it bounces back, or is reflected, just as a ball bounces off the floor. The angle of incidence is the angle between the path of the wave and a line perpendicular to the boundary. The angle of reflection is the angle between the same line and the path of the reflected wave. All reflected waves obey the law of reflection, which states that the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence. The reflectivity of a material is the fraction of energy of the oncoming wave that is reflected by it.