reflex /rēˈfleks, formerly ri-fleksˈ/

1. Bent or turned back
2. Reflected
3. Reciprocal
4. (of an angle) more than 180º
5. Turned back upon itself
6. Involuntary, produced by or concerned with response from a nerve-centre to a stimulus from without
7. Illuminated by light from another part of the same picture (art)
8. Using the same valve or valves for high- and low-frequency amplification (radio)

1. Reflection
2. Reflected light
3. A reflected image
4. An expression, manifestation, outward representation
5. A reflex action
6. (in pl) the ability to perform such actions
7. A reflex radio receiving set
8. An element of speech that has developed from a corresponding earlier form (linguistics)

1. To bend back
2. To project, direct (Shakespeare)

reflexedˈ adjective (botany)

Bent abruptly backward or downward

reflexibilˈity noun

reflexˈible adjective

reflexˈion noun see reflection under reflect

reflexˈive adjective (grammar)

1. Indicating that the action turns back upon the subject
2. Relating to a reflex

A reflexive pronoun or verb

reflexˈively adverb

reflexˈiveness or reflexivˈity noun

reflexˈly (or /rēˈ/) adverb

reflexologˈical adjective

reflexolˈogist noun

reflexolˈogy noun

1. The study of the body's reflexes as a guide to behaviour (psychology)
2. A form of therapy for treating particular bodily ailments and general stress, carried out through massage on the soles of the feet, on the principle that specific areas of the feet relate to specific parts and organs of the body

reflex anal dilatation noun

Involuntary widening of the anus on examination

reflex arc noun

The simplest functional unit of the nervous system, by which an impulse produces a reflex action

reflex camera noun

One in which the image is reflected onto a glass screen for composing and focusing, either through the camera lens (singˈle-lens reflex) or through a separate lens of the same focal length (twinˈ-lens reflex)

reflex light noun

A lens with a reflecting back or a prism with internal reflection, returning a beam of light when the headlight, eg of a motor car, shines on it

• on the rocks
• on the ropes
• on the run
• on the safe side
• on the same wavelength as
• on the scale of
• on the shady side of
• on the shelf
• on the shop floor
• on the short side
• on the side
• on the side of the angels
• on the slate
• on the sly
• on the spin
• on the spot
• on-the-spot
• on the spur of the moment
• on the square
• on the starboard beam
• on the starboard bow
• on the stocks
• on the street
• on the streets
• on the strength