refract

verb

re·​fract ri-ˈfrakt 

refracted; refracting; refracts

transitive verb

1

a

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

Between them, Kirchhoff and Bunsen developed the spectroscope, which uses a prism to refract light.

—Paul Strathern

b

: to alter or distort as if by refraction

"Nope" is his twist on the alien-invasion film as refracted through the prism of [filmmaker] David Lynch.

—Cary Darling

Too often Indian food, and later Chinese—then the two most favored and accepted of foreign cuisines—became refracted through the prism of British food.

—Nigella Lawson

2

: to determine the refracting power of

refract a lens

intransitive verb

: to be subjected to refraction

The head of the figure is often surrounded by rings of coloured light caused by light diffraction. Like with a rainbow, this is caused by light refracting through tiny droplets of water in the air.

—Olivia Jones

Examples of refract in a Sentence

Light is refracted when it hits water.

Recent Examples on the Web

America’s extraordinary wealth must become focused on creating an entrepreneurial prism refracts into a broader spectrum of responsibility, opportunity and stewardship. —Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026

Raging 808s give his voice a cushion to land on, refracting its sharper edges into shape. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2026

This signal was then refracted back at the Mars Express by the atmospheric layers of the Red Planet. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Inspired by a dreamlike underwater scene in the 2012 film Life of Pi, the pool refracts light, shifting ever-changing reflections into the lounge below. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2026

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

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for refract

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact

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)