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

Related Words

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