mirror

[ mir-er ]

noun

1. a reflecting surface, originally of polished metal but now usually of glass with a silvery, metallic, or amalgam backing.
2. such a surface set into a frame, attached to a handle, etc., for use in viewing oneself or as an ornament.
3. any reflecting surface, as the surface of calm water under certain lighting conditions.
4. Optics. a surface that is either plane, concave, or convex and that reflects rays of light.
5. something that gives a minutely faithful representation, image, or idea of something else:

   Gershwin's music was a mirror of its time.

6. a pattern for imitation; exemplar:

   a man who was the mirror of fashion.

   Synonyms: paradigm, epitome, model

7. a glass, crystal, or the like, used by magicians, diviners, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to reflect in or as if in a mirror.
2. to reflect as a mirror does.
3. to mimic or imitate (something) accurately.
4. to be or give a faithful representation, image, or idea of:

   Her views on politics mirror mine completely.

adjective

1. Music. (of a canon or fugue) capable of being played in retrograde or in inversion, as though read in a mirror placed beside or below the music.

mirror

/ ˈmɪrə /

noun

1. 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
2. such a reflecting surface mounted in a frame
3. any reflecting surface
4. a thing that reflects or depicts something else

   the press is a mirror of public opinion

verb

1. tr to reflect, represent, or depict faithfully

   he mirrors his teacher's ideals

mirror

/ mĭr′ər /

1. 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.
2. See more at reflection

Derived Forms

• ˈmirror-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• mirror·like adjective
• un·mirrored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mirror¹

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; mirage, -ator

Word History and Origins

Origin of mirror¹

C13: from Old French from mirer to look at, from Latin mīrārī to wonder at

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. with mirrors, by or as if by magic.

Example Sentences

Amid the tons of blood and myriad grotesque images, there’s the scene of Moore standing in front of the bathroom mirror, getting ready for a date.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to showing the intermediate position of Skiphosoura, it also shows that a Scottish pterosaur, Dearc, as fitting in the mirror position between the early pterosaurs and the first darwinopterans.

From Science Daily

With the co-production between Latvia, France and Belgium, Zilbalodis went from being a jack-of-all-trades to forming his own production company — thereby mirroring the loner cat’s sudden need to work in a team environment.

From Los Angeles Times

“We have to look into the mirror and really reflect on what happened more broadly.”

From Los Angeles Times

Someday, history’s gaze will fall upon this chapter and in that mirror the nation may confront its own failures, enduring an international shame too deep to erase.

From Salon

Related Words

• glass