mirage
/ˈmɪrɑːʒ
/ /mɪˈrɑːʒ /noun
1An optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air: the surface of the road ahead rippled in the heat mirages...
- The heat rippled watery mirages on the road, teasing my hot hand with illusory coolness.
- Heading for the desert he attempts the Marathon des Sables, an exhausting and dangerous seven-day test of ability, to see what effect dry heat has on the weather, from mirages to the deadly desert sandstorm that is the haboob.
- Due to the unpredictability of mirages, these lights can seem to move quickly through the sky and suddenly vanish.
Synonyms
optical illusion, hallucination, phantasmagoria, apparition, fantasy, chimera, trick, vision;
delusion, figment of the imagination, misconception, pipe dream, day dream
literary phantasm
1.1An unrealistic hope or wish that cannot be achieved: the hope of sanctuary initially proved a mirage...
- Basic services have not been funded and the long promised legislation has proved to be a mirage.
- The poor might have given him the edge this time, but how happy are they going to be when the promised economic sunshine proves to be a mirage?
- Democratization in Afghanistan, he believes, is a mirage.
Origin
Early 19th century: from French, from se mirer 'be reflected', from Latin mirare 'look at'.
- headmount
- head-mounted
- head net
- head netting
- head nodding
- head noise
- headnote
- head noun
- head nurse
- head office
- head of hair
- head of house
- head of state
- head-on
- head (or cut) someone/thing off at the pass
- head over heels
- head penny
- headphone
- headpiece
- head-place
- head-plate
- headpost
- head pump
- headquarter
- headquarters