reflective

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   devoted to matters of the mind

   the reflective type

2. 2
   adj

   capable of physically reflecting light or sound

   a reflective surface

3. 3
   adj

   That reflects, or redirects back to the source.

   Mirrors are reflective.

4. 4
   adj

   Pondering, especially thinking back on the past.

   He always becomes reflective in preparation for the new year.

5. 5
   adj

   That reveals or shows; revealing; indicative of.

   Both brides and grooms in native Hawaiian tradition wear flower garlands as a physical manifestation of their love for one another, and to some, the twining of the stems is reflective of two families now becoming one. A more tourist-friendly version established in the past couple of decades involves winding the leis around the couple’s hands to bind them together.

6. 6
   adj

   By means of reflection.

   In JIT compilation, the running program is reflectively modified by an embedded compiler, which only uses two reflective operations […]

7. 7
   adj

   deeply or seriously thoughtful

8. 8
   adj

   Involving reflection.

Etymology

From reflect + -ive.