Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
reflexion
reflexive
reflexology
refluent
reflux
refocus
reforest
Reform
reform
Reform Act
Reform Judaism
Reform Party
reform school
Reformation
reformation
reformatory
Reformed
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

refraction

re·frac·tion [ ri fráksh'n ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. physics change of direction of wave: the change in direction that occurs when a wave of energy such as light passes from one medium to another of a different density, e.g. from air to water

2. physics degree of wave redirection: the degree to which a wave of energy is refracted

3. astronomy distortion of position of astronomical object: the degree to which the apparent position of an astronomical object is distorted by the redirection of its light as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere

4. ophthalmology ability of eye to bend light: the ability of the eye to change the direction of light in order to focus it on the retina

5. ophthalmology measuring of refractive capacity of eye: the process of measuring the eye's ability to refract light


re·frac·tion·al adjective
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft