reflect
To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
Verb
- To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
- A mirror reflects the light that shines on it.
- To be bent back (light, etc.) from a surface.
- The moonlight reflected from the surface of water.
- To mirror, or show the image of something.
- The shop window reflected his image as he walked past.
- To be mirrored.
- His image reflected from the shop window as he walked past.
- To agree with; to closely follow.
- Entries in English dictionaries aim to reflect common usage.
- To give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
- The team's victory reflects the Captain's abilities.
- The teacher's ability reflects well on the school.
- The admirable smoothness of the riding also reflected the greatest credit on those who, despite the difficulties caused by the shortage of men and materials, have succeeded in maintaining the track in such first-class...
- To think seriously; to ponder or consider.
- People do that sort of thing every day, without ever stopping to reflect on the consequences.
- Standing on the mountain above Caerphilly, one may reflect upon the gap where once stood Llanbradach Viaduct, and look near at hand upon the restored ruins of Caerphilly Castle; man labours to rebuild the mediaeval...
- Not for the first time, he reflected that it was not so much the speeches that strained the nerves as the palaver that went with them. - 1985, Justin Richards, Option Lock, page 229:
Origin
From Old French reflecter (“to bend back, turn back”), from Latin reflectō (“to reflect”), from re- (“again”) + flectō (“to bend, to curve”). Compare English reflex.
Forms
Derived
misreflect nonreflective reflectability reflectable reflectance reflectarray reflectible reflectin reflecting microscope reflective reflectogram reflectograph reflectography reflectometer reflectometry reflect on reflectoporn reflector reflectorize reflectron reflect upon reflexion retroreflect self-reflect