reflection

[ ri-flek-shuhn ]

/ rɪˈflɛk ʃən /

noun

the act of reflecting, as in casting back a light or heat, mirroring, or giving back or showing an image; the state of being reflected in this way.

an image; representation; counterpart.

a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.

a thought occurring in consideration or meditation.

an unfavorable remark or observation.

the casting of some imputation or reproach.

Physics, Optics.

the return of light, heat, sound, etc., after striking a surface.
something so reflected, as heat or especially light.

Mathematics.

(in a plane) the replacement of each point on one side of a line by the point symmetrically placed on the other side of the line.
(in space) the replacement of each point on one side of a plane by the symmetric point on the other side of the plane.

Anatomy. the bending or folding back of a part upon itself.

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Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

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Also especially British, re·flex·ion.

Origin of reflection

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin reflexiōn- (stem of reflexiō) a bending back, equivalent to Latin reflex(us) (see reflex) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR reflection

3 meditation, rumination, deliberation, cogitation, study, thinking.

5 imputation, aspersion, reproach, criticism.

OTHER WORDS FROM reflection

re·flec·tion·al, adjectivere·flec·tion·less, adjectivein·ter·re·flec·tion, nounnon·re·flec·tion, noun

o·ver·re·flec·tion, nounself-re·flec·tion, nounsu·per·re·flec·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reflection

diffraction diffusion reflection rarefaction refraction

Words nearby reflection

reflect, reflect on, reflectance, reflected plan, reflecting telescope, reflection, reflection coefficient, reflection density, reflection nebula, reflection plane, reflective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for non-reflection

reflection

less commonly reflexion

/ (rɪˈflɛkʃən) /

noun

the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected

something reflected or the image so produced, as by a mirror

careful or long consideration or thought

implicit or explicit attribution of discredit or blame

maths a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed or which changes the sign of one of the variables

anatomy the bending back of a structure or part upon itself

Derived forms of reflection

reflectional or reflexional, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for non-reflection

reflection

[ rĭ-flĕk′shən ]

n.

The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.

Something, such as light, radiant heat, sound, or an image, that is reflected.

The folding of a membrane from the wall of a cavity over an organ and back to the wall.

The folds so made.

Mental concentration; careful consideration.

A thought or an opinion resulting from such consideration.

Other words from reflection

re•flec′tion•al adj.

Scientific definitions for non-reflection

reflection

[ rĭ-flĕk′shən ]

The change in direction of a wave, such as a light or sound wave, away from a boundary the wave encounters. Reflected waves remain in their original medium rather than entering the medium they encounter.♦ According to the law of reflection, the angle of reflection of a reflected wave is equal to its angle of incidence. Compare refraction. See more at wave.

Something, such as sound, light, or heat, that is reflected.

Cultural definitions for non-reflection

reflection

A bouncing of light off a surface. People see themselves in mirrors through reflection. (Compare refraction.)