refract

[ ri-frakt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to refraction.
2. to determine the refractive condition of (an eye).

refract

/ rɪˈfrækt /

verb

1. to cause to undergo refraction
2. to measure the refractive capabilities of (the eye, a lens, etc)

Derived Forms

• reˈfractable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·fracta·ble adjective
• re·fracted·ly adverb
• re·fracted·ness noun
• nonre·fracting adjective
• unre·fracted adjective
• unre·fracting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of refract¹

1605–15; < Latin refrāctus, past participle of refringere to break, force back, equivalent to re- re- + frac- (variant stem of frangere to break ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of refract¹

C17: from Latin refractus broken up, from refringere , from re- + frangere to break

Example Sentences

Less attention has been paid to how heat interacts with structural color — often vibrant, iridescent hues created by light refracting off of microscopic structures.

From Science News

This supernatural-looking glass refracted tricky golden beams, absorbing tesseracts of analogue and HD-video projections, dosing the audience with what felt like liquid LSD submerged in a blazing infinity pool.

From Washington Post

While Spears was reportedly more in control on that record than any other, Blackout succeeds in part because she’s a mysterious presence at its core, her signature wail refracted by effects and shrouded in synths.

From Time

When there’s artificial light to help guide you to an island, you don’t hone your other skills, like understanding birds or seeing the ocean refracting off the islands.

From Nautilus

These stories shift and evolve, refracted through the values of the societies that retell them.

From Time

Ions in the air act like drops of mist; they refract sunshine and make rainbows after rain.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Phædrus, which is the supplement of the Symposion, he made it refract something approaching the splendor of truth revealed.

From Project Gutenberg

Because they refract the rays of light in the same manner as the rain drops.

From Project Gutenberg

I must get these reds to balance, or the whole thing will never refract properly at all.

From Project Gutenberg

Ammoniacal copper sulphate forms with picric acid yellow-green crystals which strongly refract the light.

From Project Gutenberg