refraction — the bending of light, sound, or heat when it passes from one medium to another of different density
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the bending of light, sound, or heat when it passes from one medium to another of different density
Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈfrækʃən/
Example Sentences
- My glasses work thanks to refraction - without it, I'd be bumping into everything like a confused penguin!
- The refraction of sunlight through water droplets creates beautiful rainbows after rain.
- The swimming pool looks shallower than it actually is due to light refraction - many people have learned this the hard way!
refraction
NOUN[/rɪˈfrækʃən/]
the bending of light, sound, or heat when it passes from one medium to another of different density
The straw looks bent in the glass because of refraction.
Light changes direction through the crystal, creating colorful refraction.
The sudden glare left the driver distracted as sunlight bent through the crystal by refraction.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'refractus', the past participle of 'refringere' meaning 'to break back' or 'to break'. The prefix 're-' means 'back' and 'frangere' means 'to break'. The term was adopted into English to describe the physical phenomenon of light bending when passing between different media.
Breakdown
re- (back) + fract (break, from Latin frangere) + -ion (noun suffix) = refraction
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My glasses work thanks to refraction - without it, I'd be bumping into everything like a confused penguin!”
“The refraction of sunlight through water droplets creates beautiful rainbows after rain.”
“The swimming pool looks shallower than it actually is due to light refraction - many people have learned this the hard way!”
“Understanding refraction is crucial for designing optical instruments like microscopes and telescopes.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.