Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense refracts, present participle refracting, past tense, past participle refracted
verb
When a ray of light or a sound wave refracts or is refracted, the path it follows bends at a particular point, for example when it enters water or glass.
As we age, the lenses of the eyes thicken, and thus refract light differently. [VERB noun]
...surfaces that cause the light to reflect and refract. [VERB]
refraction (rɪfrækʃən)uncountable noun
...the refraction of the light on the dancing waves. [+ of]
refract in British English
(rɪˈfrækt)
verb(transitive)
1.
to cause to undergo refraction
2.
to measure the refractive capabilities of (the eye, a lens, etc)
Derived forms
refractable (reˈfractable)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Latin refractus broken up, from refringere, from re- + frangere to break
refract in American English
(rɪˈfrækt)
verb transitive
1.
to cause (a ray or wave of light, heat, or sound) to undergo refraction
2. Optics
to measure the degree of refraction of (an eye or lens)
Derived forms
refractive (reˈfractive)
adjective
refractively (reˈfractively)
adverb
refractivity (ˌrefracˈtivity) (ˌrifrækˈtɪvəti)
noun or reˈfractiveness
Word origin
< L refractus, pp. of refringere, to turn aside < re-, back + frangere, to break
Examples of 'refract' in a sentence
refract
So too, the addition of a single fact, sometimes, will refract the light of our minds.