reflection

[ ri-flek-shuhn ]

noun

1. 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.
2. an image; representation; counterpart.
3. a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.

   Synonyms: rumination, thinking, study, cogitation, deliberation, meditation

4. a thought occurring in consideration or meditation.
5. an unfavorable remark or observation.

   Synonyms: criticism, reproach, aspersion, imputation

6. the casting of some imputation or reproach.
7. Physics, Optics.
   1. the return of light, heat, sound, etc., after striking a surface.
   2. something so reflected, as heat or especially light.
8. Mathematics.
   1. (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.
   2. (in space) the replacement of each point on one side of a plane by the symmetric point on the other side of the plane.
9. Anatomy. the bending or folding back of a part upon itself.

reflection

/ rɪˈflɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected
2. something reflected or the image so produced, as by a mirror
3. careful or long consideration or thought
4. implicit or explicit attribution of discredit or blame
5. maths a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed or which changes the sign of one of the variables
6. anatomy the bending back of a structure or part upon itself

reflection

/ rĭ-flĕk′shən /

1. 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.
2. ◆ According to the law of reflection, the angle of reflection of a reflected wave is equal to its angle of incidence.
3. Compare refractionSee more at wave
4. Something, such as sound, light, or heat, that is reflected.

reflection

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

Derived Forms

• reˈflectional, adjective

Other Words From

• re·flection·al adjective
• re·flection·less adjective
• inter·re·flection noun
• nonre·flection noun
• over·re·flection noun
• self-re·flection noun
• super·re·flection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reflection¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin reflexiōn-, stem of reflexiō “a bending back,” from Latin reflex(us) “bent back” (past participle of reflectere; reflect ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Suspending Ms Robinson from the nursing register for a year, the panel said while she had "provided evidence of developing insight, remorse and reflection", there remained "insufficient evidence of full remediation".

From BBC

And Leon has recast Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” and made it a reflection of today’s multicultural America.

From Los Angeles Times

She says she recalls "all of it" - especially as the country pauses for reflection on Remembrance Day.

From BBC

"The Japanese people expressed their strong desire for the LDP to do some reflection and become a party that acts in line with the people's will," Ishiba told national broadcaster NHK after that election.

From BBC

As Douglass puts it, they would “see what ought to be by reflection of what is and endeavor to remove the contradiction.”

From Salon

Related Words

• consideration
• contemplation
• idea
• impression
• meditation
• observation
• opinion
• rumination
• view