reflection

noun

ri-FLEK-shuhn/ɹɪˈflɛkʃən/

8 meanings of reflection

1
nouncountable
An image you see thrown back from a mirror, still water, or other shiny surface.
Like seeing your own face look back at you from a mirror.
She saw her reflection in the shop window as she walked past.
The reflection of the trees wobbled gently on the lake.
Similarimage, likeness
Note
2
noununcountable
Careful thinking about something, often over a long time.
Like turning an idea over and over in your mind before you decide.
After much reflection, she decided to change schools.
He needs some quiet time for reflection before he answers.
Similarthought, contemplation, consideration, meditation, deliberation
Note
3
noununcountable
The way light, sound, or other waves bounce back when they hit a surface.
Like a ball bouncing back to you after you throw it at a wall.
Reflection lets us see ourselves clearly in a flat mirror.
The reflection of sound off the canyon walls produced a loud echo.
Oppositeabsorption
4
noununcountable
The action of throwing something back, or the state of being thrown back.
Like a beam of light hitting a mirror and coming straight back.
The reflection of sunlight off the snow was almost blinding.
Mirrors work through the reflection of light.
Similarmirroring
Note
5
nouncountable
A sign or result that shows what something or someone is really like.
Like a thermometer that shows how hot the room really is.
Her messy room is a reflection of her very busy life.
The low test scores are a reflection of poor teaching.
Similarsign, indication, symptom, expression, result
Note
6
nouncountable or uncountable
A fact or remark that makes someone or something look bad.
Like how a child's rude words can make people judge the parents.
Bad behavior at school is a reflection on his parents.
Losing one game is no reflection on your skill.
Similarslur, slight, aspersion, criticism, discredit
Oppositecredit, compliment
Note
7
noununcountable
A way for a computer program to look at and change its own structure while it is running.
Like a robot that can open its own cover and check what parts are inside.
Reflection lets the program find out what type a value is while running.
We used reflection to load the plugin without knowing its name in advance.
Similarintrospection
Note
8
nouncountable
A place where a layer of body tissue folds back on itself.
Like a bedsheet folded back over the top of a blanket.
The surgeon located the reflection where the membrane folds back.
A reflection of tissue covers the lower part of the organ.
Similarfold
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Middle French reflexion and Late Latin reflexio, related to the verb reflect.