reflection

B1 Topic:Physics

US /ɹɪˈflɛkʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #6977

Meanings

1

noun
An image seen in a mirror or shiny surface.

The puppy barked at its reflection in the mirror.
2

noun
Careful thought about something.

After careful reflection, I decided not to take the job.
3

noun
A sign or result of a particular condition or quality.

Our recent results are a reflection of the progress we've made as a team.
4

noun
The throwing back of light, heat, or sound from a surface.

The reflection of sunlight off the snow was almost blinding.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an image seen in a mirror... reflexion

2 noun · careful thought about... contemplation deliberation

4 noun · the throwing back of light,... reflexion

Word family

Forms reflections

Derived forms antireflectionhyporeflectioninterreflectionmetareflectionmisreflectionmultireflectionno-reflectionpseudoreflectionreflection-in-actionreflection-likereflection-on-actionreflectional

Related forms diffraction reflect reflective reflector refraction

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

reflection factor
the proportion of incoming radiant energy that a surface reflects

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle French reflexion, reflection, and its source Late Latin reflexio, from the participle stem of reflectō. The current spelling is influenced by reflect. Equivalent to reflect + -ion.

Topics

Physics Abstract Ideas

External links

# reflection

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɹɪˈflɛkʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 6977

## Meanings
1. An image seen in a mirror or shiny surface.
2. Careful thought about something.
3. A sign or result of a particular condition or quality.
4. The throwing back of light, heat, or sound from a surface.

## Examples
- The puppy barked at its reflection in the mirror.
- After careful reflection, I decided not to take the job.
- Our recent results are a reflection of the progress we've made as a team.
- The reflection of sunlight off the snow was almost blinding.

## Derived Forms
- antireflection
- hyporeflection
- interreflection
- metareflection
- misreflection
- multireflection
- no-reflection
- pseudoreflection
- reflection-in-action
- reflection-like
- reflection-on-action
- reflectional

## Related Forms
- diffraction
- reflect
- reflective
- reflector
- refraction

## Etymology
From Middle French reflexion, reflection, and its source Late Latin reflexio, from the participle stem of reflectō. The current spelling is influenced by reflect. Equivalent to reflect + -ion.

## AI Etymology
Reflection comes from Middle French reflexion, reflection, and its source Late Latin reflexio, from the participle stem of reflectō. The current spelling is influenced by reflect. Equivalent to reflect + -ion. Modern senses include an image seen in a mirror or shiny surface. and careful thought about something.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as antireflection, hyporeflection, interreflection, metareflection, misreflection, and multireflection and related forms such as diffraction, reflect, reflective, and reflector.

## Topics
- Physics
- Abstract Ideas

markdown