the change in direction of a propagating wave, such as light or sound, in passing from one medium to another in which it has a different velocity
2.
the amount by which a wave is refracted
3.
the ability of the eye to refract light
4.
the determination of the refractive condition of the eye
5. astronomy
the apparent elevation in position of a celestial body resulting from the refraction of light by the earth's atmosphere
refraction in American English
(rɪˈfrækʃən)
noun
1.
the bending of a ray or wave of light, heat, or sound as it passes obliquely from one medium to another of different density, in which its speed is different, or through layers of different density in the same medium
2. Astronomy
the bending of the rays of light from a star or planet, greatest when the star or planet is lowest in the sky, so that it seems higher than it really is
3. Optics
a.
the ability of the eye to refract light entering it, so as to form an image on the retina
b.
the measuring of the degree of refraction of an eye
Word origin
LL refractio
Examples of 'refraction' in a sentence
refraction
Only twenty years ago the Frenchman Laussedat noted a refraction of the solar disc during an eclipse.
Baxter, Stephen ANTI-ICE (2002)
The sub's golden light warped through thick cellular membranes with a peculiar refraction, like interference between two layers of glass.