mirror
Americannoun
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mirrors
plural
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a reflecting surface, originally of polished metal but now usually of glass with a silvery, metallic, or amalgam backing.
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such a surface set into a frame, attached to a handle, etc., for use in viewing oneself or as an ornament.
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any reflecting surface, as the surface of calm water under certain lighting conditions.
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Optics. a surface that is either plane, concave, or convex and that reflects rays of light.
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something that gives a minutely faithful representation, image, or idea of something else.
Gershwin's music was a mirror of its time.
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a pattern for imitation; exemplar.
a man who was the mirror of fashion.
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a glass, crystal, or the like, used by magicians, diviners, etc.
verb (used with object)
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mirrors,
present (3rd person singular)
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mirrored,
past participle, past
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mirroring
present participle
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to reflect in or as if in a mirror.
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to reflect as a mirror does.
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to mimic or imitate (something) accurately.
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to be or give a faithful representation, image, or idea of.
Her views on politics mirror mine completely.
adjective
idioms
noun
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a surface, such as polished metal or glass coated with a metal film, that reflects light without diffusion and produces an image of an object placed in front of it
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such a reflecting surface mounted in a frame
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any reflecting surface
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a thing that reflects or depicts something else
the press is a mirror of public opinion
verb
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An object that causes light or other radiation to be reflected from its surface, with little or no diffusion. Common mirrors consist of a thin sheet or film of metal, such as silver, behind or covering a glass pane. Mirrors are used extensively in telescopes, microscopes, lasers, fiber optics, measuring instruments, and many other devices.
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See more at reflection
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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mirrorsimple
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mirrorssimple
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have mirroredperfect
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has mirroredperfect
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am mirroringprogressive
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are mirroringprogressive
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is mirroringprogressive
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have been mirroringperfect progressive
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has been mirroringperfect progressive
Past
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mirroredsimple
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had mirroredperfect
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was mirroringprogressive
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were mirroringprogressive
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had been mirroringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mirror
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English mirour, from Old French mireo(u)r, equivalent to mir(er) “to look at” + -eo(u)r, from Latin -ātor, noun suffix of agency; see mirage, see -ator
Explanation
A mirror is a glass surface backed with a metallic coating that reflects images that are in front of it. When you gaze at yourself in a mirror, your own face gazes right back at you. "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" asks the evil queen in "Snow White," as she admires her reflection. Ordinary mirrors can't answer this question, but they can show you how you look in your new hat or whether you have spinach between your teeth. And the verb mirror means "reflect," as when the surface of a lake mirrors the sky.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Stallo’s life appears to mirror Ewan’s, though it began decades earlier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
I adjusted my button-down collar in my hallway mirror, having agreed to meet Barry at Outback Steakhouse in La Habra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Audiences just want to look in a mirror, even if they themselves internally despise what they see in that mirror.
From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2026
For example, one world's mechanics, based on those from the free 2014 game Mirror Isles by Alan Hazelden, sees players use mirror reflections to swap places across islands.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Her eyes seemed to meet Jonah’s in the mirror.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
"It mirrors the creator economy more broadly. The vast majority make little to nothing," she says.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
The issue there is that these futures contracts are underpinned by baskets of actual Treasurys, and the specific Treasury that the futures contract mirrors changes as bond yields move up and down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
This process mirrors a cellular transformation that has recently been identified as occurring naturally in the brain during human aging.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
The new app will support both the traditional page-based comics format that mirrors physical books and the more mobile-device-friendly vertical-scroll format.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Many of the mirrors sit hollow and empty within their ornate frames.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Gordon's narrow runs from a wider starting position have been mirrored by Saka and Rogers on the other side too - a new string to England's attacking bow.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Like hands, all amino acids exist as two mirrored variants, but only one of them is found in the proteins in the body's cells.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
The equestrian facility is topped off by a sprawling 20,000-square-foot riding arena with an observation deck and mirrored wall, which the listing notes is suitable for both dressage and jumping.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
Designed by Gilles & Boissier, the space has mirrored ceilings everywhere, only adding to the endless effect.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
I look up at the mirrored hallway closet and try a Lauren smile.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
It ends a lawsuit alleging TikTok is intentionally designed to addict children to its features, mirroring a host of lawsuits against social media platforms.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
Mike Trout could not stop smiling, mirroring the optimism and goodwill at Angel Stadium on the day Stan Kroenke announced a deal to buy the Angels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Tesla plans to initially deploy a small number of Model Y crossover SUVs in Clark County, mirroring a strategy it’s employed in Texas, Florida and California.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
IBM’s infrastructure revenue fell 7% to $3.8 billion, mirroring the company’s prior profit warning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Behind it, the Black One loomed, mirroring its shape.
From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
