reflex

[ree-fleks, 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

1. Physiology.

   1. Also called reflex act. movement caused by a reflex response.

   2. Also called reflex action. the entire physiological process activating such movement.

2. any automatic, unthinking, often habitual behavior or response.

3. the reflection or image of an object, as exhibited by a mirror or the like.

4. a reproduction, as if in a mirror.

5. a copy; adaptation.

6. reflected light, color, etc.

7. 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.

8. a reflex radio receiver.

9. a reflex camera.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to a reflex process.

2. to bend, turn, or fold back.

3. to arrange in a reflex system.

reflex

noun

1. 1. 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

   2. ( as modifier ) See also reflex arc

      a reflex action

2. 1. a mechanical response to a particular situation, involving no conscious decision

   2. ( 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"

adjective

1. maths (of an angle) between 180° and 360°

2. (prenominal) turned, reflected, or bent backwards

verb

1. (tr) to bend, turn, or reflect backwards

reflex

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.

3. Also called unconditioned response

4. See more at classical conditioning

reflex

1. 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.

Other Word Forms

• reflexibility noun
• reflexible adjective
• reflexly adverb
• reflexness noun
• multireflex noun
• semireflex noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reflex¹

1500–10; < Latin reflexus bent back, past participle of reflectere to reflect

Word History and Origins

Origin of reflex¹

C16: from Latin reflexus bent back, from reflectere to reflect

Example Sentences

In theory, each ingredient plays a role: one dries secretions, another loosens phlegm, a third dulls the cough reflex.

Read more on BBC

Pickford is rightly renowned for his fast reflexes when making stops but, like every modern-day keeper, he is no longer only judged by how good he is with his hands.

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“I don’t say the Jews, I don’t say Israel, I say the Israeli administration. But even then, there’s a reflex — you can’t touch this.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Her bullet missed, thanks to the quick reflexes of a former Marine standing next to her.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Our Boy placed that child’s consciousness inside a synthetic body resembling an adult woman, then endowed that construct with superior strength, heightened reflexes and a supercomputer with remote hacking capabilities for a brain.

Read more on Salon