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refractor

American  
[ri-frak-ter] / rɪˈfræk tər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that refracts.

  2. telescope1


refractor British  
/ rɪˈfræktə /

noun

  1. an object or material that refracts

  2. another name for refracting telescope

"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

Etymology

Origin of refractor

First recorded in 1630–40; refract + -or 2

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.

In 1655 Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens set up a refractor telescope of his own construction and aimed it at Saturn.

From Scientific American

According to Beckett, the Trout red refractor is the second rarest version of the Angels’ superstar’s card.

From Fox News

“My old trusty refractor. Just came in the mail today. This is what I used to do when I was your age, boys. I’d almost forgotten about it until I came down to your range.”

From Literature

Roughly 12 percent were flagged as having weak vision and sent to an adjacent classroom where workers using refractor lenses conducted more tests.

From Seattle Times

The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum says it’s restoring a 1926 refractor telescope used for decades at the University of Michigan observatory.

From Seattle Times