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| re·fract [ ri frákt ] (past and past participle re·fract·ed, present participle re·fract·ing, 3rd person present singular re·fracts) |
transitive verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. physics alter course of wave of energy: to alter the course of a wave of energy that passes into something from another medium, as water does to light entering it from the air
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2. ophthalmology measure refraction in something: to measure the degree of refraction in a lens or eye
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3. show something differently: to alter the appearance of something by viewing or showing it through a different medium
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| [Early 17th century. < Latin refract-, past participle of refringere "break off, break back" < frangere "to break"] |
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