refract

verb

re·​fract ri-ˈfrakt 

refracted; refracting; refracts

transitive verb

1

a

: to subject (something, such as a ray of light) to refraction

b

: to alter or distort as if by refraction

to refract that familiar world through the mind and heart of a romantic … woman

—Anton Myrer

2

: to determine the refracting power of

Examples of refract in a Sentence

Light is refracted when it hits water.

Recent Examples on the Web

Across the ever shifting sphere: the effects of fog slowly subsuming a hillside, the sun stirring between the sea and sky, and ribbons of light refracting through shallow pools at low tide. —Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2024

Meanwhile, economic issues achieved more political potency when refracted through race. —Stacey Y. Abrams, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2019

These different temperature bands can cause sound waves to bend or refract downwards toward the ground because of the difference in the speed that sound waves travel in warm and cool air, said Jason Corey, associate professor of music for the University of Michigan. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024

Led by Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively, the new film refracts this coming-of-age tale through the glossy lens of a big-budget Hollywood production soundtracked by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin refractus, past participle of refringere to break open, break up, from re- + frangere to break — more at break

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

refract

verb

re·​fract ri-ˈfrakt 

: to cause to go through refraction

Medical Definition

refract

transitive verb

re·​fract ri-ˈfrakt 

1

: to subject (as a ray of light) to refraction

2

: to determine the refracting power of or abnormality of refraction in (as an eye or a lens)