refract

Of a medium, substance, object, etc.: to deflect the course of (light rays), esp. when they enter the medium, etc., at an oblique angle; to cause refraction of (light, other electromagnetic radiation, or sound or other wave phenomena).

Verb

  1. Of a medium, substance, object, etc.: to deflect the course of (light rays), esp. when they enter the medium, etc., at an oblique angle; to cause refraction of (light, other electromagnetic radiation, or sound or other wave phenomena).
  2. To mediate; to alter; to distort.
  3. To cause (light) to change direction as a result of entering a different medium.
  4. To measure, and often also to correct with lenses, the refractive error of (an eye) or the eyes of (a person).
    • A prism can refract light.

Origin

From Latin refrāctum, neuter form of refrāctus, the past participle of refringō, itself from re- (“again”) + frangō (“to break”).

Forms

refracts refracting refracted

Related

refraction refractive refractory refrangible refringent reflect

Derived

nonrefracting refractable refracting refracting telescope refractometer refractometric refractometry refractor unrefracting