Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To deflect (light, for example) from a straight path by refraction.
- transitive verb To alter by viewing through a medium.
- transitive verb Medicine To determine the refraction of (an eye, for example).
from The Century Dictionary.
- To bend back sharply or abruptly; especially, in optics, to break the natural course of, as of a ray of light; deflect at. a certain angle on passing from one medium into another of a different density. See
refraction .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To bend sharply and abruptly back; to break off.
- transitive verb To break the natural course of, as rays of light orr heat, when passing from one transparent medium to another of different density; to cause to deviate from a direct course by an action distinct from reflection.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb intransitive, of light To change
direction as a result of entering a differentmedium - verb transitive, optics To cause (light) to change direction as a result of entering a different medium.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb subject to refraction
- verb determine the refracting power of (a lens)
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word refract.
Examples
-
I ask only because we seem today to be much more savvy about being in Important Times, collectively aware that we're passing through history – a tsunami, exploding aircraft, malign old tyrannies being shucked like peas, an old man's important half-truths being pointlessly interrupted by a skidmark – and, being aware that this is living-dramatic, wanting to refract it instantly as drama.
-
However, these things are beautiful because of the way they reflect and refract light.
The Theology and Metaphysics of the Gothic Cathedral - part 3 2009
-
Even disagreeing with the interpretation doesn't invalidate it, as such, these characters can splinter, multiply, refract what have and still return to form.
Batman: Year 100 Lou Anders 2009
-
What they did was refract the light into a series of Mickey Mouse ears.
Fashion Highlights: Liquid Yogurt, Spray Tans Marshall Heyman 2011
-
After all, in asymmetric conflicts between oppressive regimes and the people whom they oppress, it is no surprise that the authoritarians will try to refract innovations for their agenda.
Ari Melber: A Surprising Barrier to Web Organizing: Facebook Ari Melber 2011
-
The laser's optical system would have to overcome the distorting effect of atmospheric turbulence, the variations in pressure and temperature that refract starlight to create the "twinkling" effect in the night sky.
Pentagon Loses War to Zap Airborne Laser From Budget Nathan Hodge 2011
-
Did they feel any sense of conflict between reporting the truth and the obligation to refract the world through rose-tinted lenses?
TV review: The Story of British Pathé; Motorway Cops; Lee Nelson's Well Good Show 2011
-
Anna half imagined that the stars were flickering: since there was no atmosphere to refract their light, they were being distorted by cloaking fields.
Star Trek The Next Generation® David A. McIntee 2011
-
It was a simple but adequate affair: a fire built in the snow; alongside, their sleeping-furs spread in a single bed on a mat of spruce boughs; behind the bed an oblong of canvas stretched to refract the heat.
THE END OF THE STORY 2010
-
The waste heat from the wings also did funny things to refract the light.
Around a Sun Named Inferno Hugh Barlow 2011
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.