reflector

B2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /rɪˈflɛktɚ/ UK /rɪˈflektə/ See IPA manual

Freq #38357

Meanings

1

noun
a surface or device that sends light, heat, sound, or other radiation back

A curved reflector directs the lamp's light toward the road.
2

noun
a reflecting telescope that forms an image with a concave mirror

The observatory's large reflector gathered enough light to reveal the faint galaxy.
3

noun
a small light-reflecting marker used to make a person, vehicle, or object visible in darkness

Each bicycle pedal has an amber reflector.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a surface or device that... reflecting surfacemirror

2 noun · a reflecting telescope that... reflecting telescope

3 noun · a small light-reflecting... reflective marker

Opposites

absorber

Word family

Derived forms retroreflectorreflectorize

Related forms reflect reflection reflective

Common collocations

parabolic reflector Adjective + noun

Etymology

From reflect + the agent or instrument suffix -or, ultimately from Latin reflectere ("to bend back"). The word names anything whose function is to return waves or radiation toward their source or another direction.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# reflector

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /rɪˈflɛktɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /rɪˈflektə/
**Frequency rank:** 38357

## Meanings
1. a surface or device that sends light, heat, sound, or other radiation back
2. a reflecting telescope that forms an image with a concave mirror
3. a small light-reflecting marker used to make a person, vehicle, or object visible in darkness

## Examples
- A curved reflector directs the lamp's light toward the road.
- The observatory's large reflector gathered enough light to reveal the faint galaxy.
- Each bicycle pedal has an amber reflector.

## Synonyms
- mirror
- reflecting surface
- reflecting telescope

## Antonyms
- absorber

## Derived Forms
- retroreflector
- reflectorize

## Related Forms
- reflect
- reflection
- reflective

## Etymology
From reflect + the agent or instrument suffix -or, ultimately from Latin reflectere ("to bend back"). The word names anything whose function is to return waves or radiation toward their source or another direction.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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