A reflex or a reflex action is something that you do automatically and without thinking, as a habit or as a reaction to something.
Walsh fumbled in his pocket, a reflex from his smoking days.
I turned to look inside the house in a reflex action.
2. countable noun
A reflex or a reflex action is a normal, uncontrollable reaction of your body to something that you feel, see, or experience.
...tests for reflexes, like tapping the knee or the heel with a rubber hammer.
...the stress hormone adrenaline, released by reflex action from the adrenal glands.
3. plural noun
Your reflexes are your ability to react quickly with your body when something unexpected happens, for example when you are involved in sport or when you are driving a car.
It takes great skill, cool nerves and the reflexes of an athlete.
More Synonyms of reflex
reflex in British English
noun (ˈriːflɛks)
1.
a.
an immediate involuntary response, esp one that is innate, such as coughing or removal of the hand from a hot surface, evoked by a given stimulus
b.
(as modifier)
a reflex action
See also reflex arc
2.
a.
a mechanical response to a particular situation, involving no conscious decision
b.
(as modifier)
a reflex response
3.
a reflection; an image produced by or as if by reflection
4.
a speech element derived from a corresponding form in an earlier state of the language
"sorrow" is a reflex of Middle English "sorwe"
adjective (ˈriːflɛks)
5. mathematics
(of an angle) between 180° and 360°
6. (prenominal)
turned, reflected, or bent backwards
verb (rɪˈflɛks)
7. (transitive)
to bend, turn, or reflect backwards
Derived forms
reflexible (reˈflexible)
adjective
reflexibility (reˌflexiˈbility)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin reflexus bent back, from reflectere to reflect
reflex in American English
(ˈriˌflɛks; for v., also rɪˈflɛks)
noun
1.
a.
reflection, as of light
b.
light or color resulting from reflection
2.
a reflected image, likeness, or reproduction
3.
a. Physiology
a reflex action
b.
any quick, automatic or habitual response
c. [pl.]
ability to react quickly and effectively
a boxer with good reflexes
adjective
4.
turned, bent, or reflected back
5.
a.
coming in reaction or reflection
a reflex effect
b. Physiology
designating or of an involuntary action, as a sneeze, resulting from a stimulus that is carried by an afferent nerve to a nerve center and the response that is reflected along an efferent nerve to some muscle or gland
6. Electronics
designating or of a device, circuit, etc. that has two different functions
7. Geometry
designating an angle greater than a straight angle (180°)
verb transitive
8.
to bend, turn, or fold back
9.
to cause to undergo a reflex process
Derived forms
reflexly (ˈreflexly)
adverb
Word origin
< L reflexus, reflected, pp. of reflectere: see reflect
Examples of 'reflex' in a sentence
reflex
It has become a reflex reaction in the digital age.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He was so tall and fast and had such great reflexes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Paying attention like this will make each bite a choice rather than a reflex or a habit.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Lightning reflexes and judgment are important in both.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This mechanism is an example of a reflex action.
McCahill, T. A. Biology Basic Facts (1982)
Some of his punches and reflex saves have been spectacular.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The spinal cord conducts nerve impulses to and from the brain and is also involved in reflex actions.
McCahill, T. A. Biology Basic Facts (1982)
The first was an unbelievable effort from the edge of the penalty area which required lightning reflexes and incredible skill.
The Sun (2013)
His speech and reflexes are improving.
The Sun (2016)
Lightning reflexes for both his goals.
The Sun (2013)
These two photos show the Moro reflex very well.
Bee, Helen The Developing Child (7th edn.) (1995)
Both sports are quick, using reflex muscles.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Great reflexes but no giant.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His reflexes are so quick.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
While what really causes hiccups is unknown, it could be the act of swallowing the sugar that stops the reflex spasm.
The Sun (2012)
Little to do but great reflex save from Obi Mikel.
The Sun (2011)
Like fishermen of an earlier time, we cast our nets deep, often by reflex and habit.
Kantrow, Alan M. The Constraints of Corporate Tradition (1987)
It promotes reflexes, sharpens skills at the net and simply makes you a better, more aggressive player.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He then followed that up by incredibly keeping out the striker's follow-up effort with a fabulous reflex stop.
The Sun (2015)
Learning Although some of our behaviour is based on reflex and instinctive reactions, most of our behaviour is learned.
Torrington, Derek Personnel Management: A New Approach (1991)
A combination of sharp reflexes, quick feet, ducking and swaying will usually look after you.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
reflex
British English: reflex /ˈriːflɛks/ NOUN
A reflex or a reflex action is a normal uncontrollable reaction of your body to something that you feel, see, or experience.
Sneezing is a reflex.
American English: reflex
Arabic: رَدٌّ فِعْلٌ تِلْقائيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: reflexo
Chinese: 反射
Croatian: refleks
Czech: reflex
Danish: refleks
Dutch: reflex
European Spanish: reflejo
Finnish: refleksi
French: réflexe
German: Reflex
Greek: αντανακλαστικό
Italian: riflesso
Japanese: 反射作用
Korean: 반사 행동
Norwegian: refleks
Polish: odbicie
European Portuguese: reflexo
Romanian: reflex
Russian: рефлекс
Latin American Spanish: reflejo
Swedish: reflex
Thai: การกระทำโดยอัตโนมัติ
Turkish: refleks
Ukrainian: рефлекс
Vietnamese: phản xạ
All related terms of 'reflex'
bass reflex
a loudspeaker equipped with a baffle having openings designed to improve the reproduction of low-frequency sounds
knee reflex
an outward reflex kick of the lower leg caused by a sharp tap on the quadriceps tendon just below the patella
reflex arc
the neural pathway over which impulses travel to produce a reflex action, consisting of at least one afferent ( receptor ) and one efferent ( effector ) neuron
diving reflex
a reflex of humans, other mammals, reptiles , and birds, triggered by immersion in cold water, that slows the heart rate and diverts blood flow to the brain , heart, and lungs : serves to conserve oxygen until breathing resumes and to delay potential brain damage
reflex camera
a camera in which the image is composed and focused on a large ground-glass viewfinder screen . In a single-lens reflex the light enters through the camera lens and falls on the film when the viewfinder mirror is retracted . In a twin-lens reflex the light enters through a separate lens and is deflected onto the viewfinder screen
patellar reflex
a normal reflex kick with extension of the leg at the knee, produced by sharply tapping the tendon below the patella
rooting reflex
a reflex in infants in which the head is turned towards any stimulus ; used to find the nipple
conditioned reflex
a reflex in which the response (e. g ., secretion of saliva in a dog) is occasioned by a secondary stimulus (e.g., the ringing of a bell ) repeatedly associated with the primary stimulus (e.g., the sight of meat)
single-lens reflex
a reflex camera in which a single lens supplies both the image on the exposed film and that reflected in the viewfinder
twin-lens reflex
a reflex camera with two lenses , one of which supplies the image reflected in the viewfinder and the other the image on the exposed film
unconditioned reflex
a reflex action innately elicited by a stimulus without the intervention of any learning process
Babinski effect
the reflex curling upwards of the toes ( instead of inwards ) when the sole of the foot is stroked, normal in infants below the age of two but a pathological condition in adults