A reflection is an image that you can see in a mirror or in glass or water.
Meg stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror.
Synonyms: image, echo, counterpart, likeness More Synonyms of reflection
2. uncountable noun
Reflection is the process by which light and heat are sent back from a surface and do not pass through it.
...the reflection of a beam of light off a mirror. [+ of]
Synonyms: sending back, mirroring, throwing back, casting back More Synonyms of reflection
3. countable noun
If you say that something is a reflectionof a particular person's attitude or of a situation, you mean that it is caused by that attitude or situation and therefore reveals something about it.
Inhibition in adulthood is a reflection of a person's experiences as a child. [+ of]
Synonyms: indication, evidence, display, demonstration More Synonyms of reflection
4. singular noun
If something is a reflection or a sad reflectionon a person or thing, it gives a bad impression of them.
Infection with head lice is no reflection on personal hygiene. [+ on]
The break-up of the library would be a sad reflection on the value we place on ourheritage. [+ on]
Synonyms: criticism, censure, slur, reproach More Synonyms of reflection
5. variable noun
Reflection is careful thought about a particular subject. Your reflections are your thoughts about a particular subject.
After days of reflection she decided to write back.
He paused, absorbed by his reflections.
See on reflection
6. countable noun [usually plural]
Reflectionson something are comments or writings that express someone's ideas about it.
In his latest collection of poems readers are confronted with a series of reflectionson death.
More Synonyms of reflection
reflection in British English
or less commonly reflexion (rɪˈflɛkʃən)
noun
1.
the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected
2.
something reflected or the image so produced, as by a mirror
3.
careful or long consideration or thought
4.
implicit or explicit attribution of discredit or blame
5. mathematics
a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed or which changes the sign of one of the variables
6. anatomy
the bending back of a structure or part upon itself
Derived forms
reflectional (reˈflectional) or reflexional (reˈflexional)
adjective
reflection in American English
(rɪˈflɛkʃən)
noun
1.
a reflecting or being reflected
2.
the throwing back by a surface of sound, light, heat, etc.
3.
anything reflected; specif., an image; likeness
4.
a.
the fixing of the mind on some subject; serious thought; contemplation
b.
the result of such thought; idea or conclusion, esp. if expressed in words
5.
a.
blame; discredit
b.
a remark or statement imputing discredit or blame
c.
an action bringing discredit
6. Anatomy
a turning or bending back on itself
Derived forms
reflectional (reˈflectional)
adjective
Word origin
ME reflexion < MFr < LL reflexio
reflection in Chemical Engineering
(rɪflɛkʃən)
noun
(Chemical Engineering: Heat transfer)
Reflection is when infrared waves (= waves with a longer distance between them than waves of visible light) bounce from a surface.
The outer tube is transparent allowing light rays to pass through with minimal reflection.
Reflection is when light falls on an object and is bent back.
Reflection is when infrared waves bounce from a surface.
specular reflection
COBUILD Collocations
reflection
fair reflection
quiet reflection
sad reflection
sober reflection
Examples of 'reflection' in a sentence
reflection
It's a sad reflection of the low priority given to mental health.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Reflections in the glass alter, for instance, depending on the time of day.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is a sad reflection on modern rugby.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was a fair reflection of the game.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The new year is often a time for personal reflection.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This can be the beginning of a useful process of reflection.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You want people to see his reflection in your life.
Christianity Today (2000)
There should be some reflection of the value that a partner individually contributes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Just rueful reflection on the one that got away.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Regulation is actually a reflection of the attitude of society and government to risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Similar appreciative noises can be heard when she looks at her own reflection in the mirror.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
How many posts were actually a true reflection of what was going on in your head?
The Sun (2015)
That is a sad reflection on me and my time at this club.
The Sun (2015)
It is a fair reflection of the calibre of the contest.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is the personal reflections that give this book its distinctive pleasure.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Not only is this often a lucid reflection on the process of translation.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
When we look at the ocean we see only the reflection of the sky.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Plant a group of trees by a pond and you get twice the value from their reflections.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He gazed in horror at his mirrored reflection.
Steel, Elizabeth Coping With Sudden Hair Loss (1988)
But on careful reflection, these are all very fine qualities.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If there are pinpoint lights or reflections in the view, flare can sometimes give them a halo.
Freeman, Michael Photographers Handbook (1993)
But the anniversary has prompted various thoughts and reflections, three of which may be of passing interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Picture editors suspect that the mystery photographer is the figure wearing a hat who appears in a reflection in a glass door in one pictures.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In the basic arrangement for lighting by reflection, the light is aimed directly away from the subject towards a white surface.
Freeman, Michael Collins Complete Guide to Photography (1993)
And also like all the best parties, there was a time afterwards for reflection and thoughts of what might have been.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
reflection
British English: reflection /rɪˈflɛkʃən/ NOUN
A reflection is an image that you can see in a mirror or in water.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror.
American English: reflection
Arabic: انعكاس
Brazilian Portuguese: reflexo
Chinese: 影像
Croatian: odraz
Czech: odraz
Danish: spejling
Dutch: weerspiegeling
European Spanish: reflexión
Finnish: heijastus
French: réflexion
German: Widerspiegelung
Greek: αντανάκλαση
Italian: riflessione
Japanese: 反射
Korean: 반사
Norwegian: refleksjon
Polish: odbijanie
European Portuguese: reflexo
Romanian: reflectare
Russian: отражение
Latin American Spanish: reflexión
Swedish: fundering
Thai: การสะท้อนกลับ
Turkish: yansıma
Ukrainian: відбиття
Vietnamese: sự phản chiếu
All related terms of 'reflection'
on reflection
If someone admits or accepts something on reflection , they admit or accept it after having thought carefully about it.
fair reflection
If you say that something is a reflection of a particular person's attitude or of a situation, you mean that it is caused by that attitude or situation and therefore reveals something about it.
sad reflection
If something is a reflection or a sad reflection on a person or thing, it gives a bad impression of them.
quiet reflection
Reflection is careful thought about a particular subject. Your reflections are your thoughts about a particular subject.
reflection density
a measure of the extent to which a surface reflects light or other electromagnetic radiation, equal to the logarithm to base ten of the reciprocal of the reflectance
sober reflection
Reflection is careful thought about a particular subject. Your reflections are your thoughts about a particular subject.
total reflection
the effect that occurs when light meets the interface between the medium in which it is traveling and a medium of smaller refractive index at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, all light being reflected back to the first medium
law of reflection
the principle that when a ray of light, radar pulse , or the like, is reflected from a smooth surface the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence , and the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the surface at the point of incidence all lie in the same plane
nonspecular reflection
the diffuse reflection of sound or light waves
specular reflection
Specular reflection is reflection of heat or light in which the angles of different parts of the surface are important .
angle of reflection
the angle that a beam of reflected radiation makes with the normal to a surface at the point of reflection
total internal reflection
the complete reflection of a light ray at the boundary of two media , when the ray is in the medium with greater refractive index
optical density
a measure of the extent to which a surface reflects light or other electromagnetic radiation , equal to the logarithm to base ten of the reciprocal of the reflectance
reflectance
a measure of the ability of a surface to reflect light or other electromagnetic radiation , equal to the ratio of the reflected flux to the incident flux