retroreflectiveadj.
/ˌrɛtrəʊrᵻˈflɛktɪv/, U.S. /ˌrɛtroʊrəˈflɛktɪv/, /ˌrɛtroʊriˈflɛktɪv/ a. Aiding mental reflection on something which has gone before; retrospectively reflective. Obsolete. rare.
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1831 London Lit. Gaz. 17 Dec. 812/1 Ideas must exist antecedent to words... Words may, indeed, subsequently have a sort of retro-reflective effect—not of engendering new ideas, but of making combinations or contrasts of those already received.
b. Capable of looking back and reflecting. Obsolete. rare.
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1851 I. Taylor Wesley & Methodism 203 His mind might be adduced as a singular instance..of the absolute absence of the retro-reflective faculty, or the power and habit of stepping back from one's position, and of measuring its bearings, as related to other objects.
2. Having the property of causing retroreflection; of or relating to retroreflection.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > reflection > [adjective]
reflective1624
reflecting1710
retroreflective1937
1937 U.S. Patents Q. 33 274/2 The sign..is made up of multiple lens-mirror buttons, also known to have a retro-reflective effect on the light falling within their range of operation.
1960 Guide Civil Land Aerodrome Lighting (B.S.I.) 40 In the case of taxiways which have occasional use, retro~reflective markers along the edges may be found to provide adequate guidance.
1970 Sci. Amer. Mar. 41/2 In the case of light three reflecting surfaces, all at right angles to one another, form a corner with the same retroreflective property.
2005 New Scientist 3 Sept. 24/3 All camera phones and cheap digital cameras use a ‘retro-reflective’ silicon sensor to capture images.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1831