# mirror

/ˈmɪɹɝ/ (US) · /mˈɪɹɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mirror
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. reflective glass

noun · CEFR A2

a piece of glass with a special coating that shows you an image of yourself when you look at it.

For teachers: a polished or smooth surface, typically of glass with a metallic backing, that reflects light to form an image of objects in front of it.

- He looked in the bathroom mirror to check his hair before the interview.
- The ornate silver-framed mirror in the hallway was angled to catch the afternoon light, making the narrow space appear significantly larger.

### 2. a reflection or representation

noun · CEFR B2

something that shows a clear picture or example of something else.

For teachers: a person, object, or event that provides a faithful representation or reflection of another entity or situation.

- The city's busy streets are a mirror of its growing economy.
- The protagonist's internal struggle serves as a mirror of the societal tensions prevalent during the post-war era.

### 3. data replica

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a website or server that keeps an exact copy of the data from another site to help with traffic.

For teachers: a network server or website that contains a duplicate set of files from another server to reduce latency or provide a backup.

- If the main download site is too slow, try using the European mirror.
- The university maintains several mirrors of the open-source repository to ensure that local students can access the software without consuming international bandwidth.

### 4. to reflect an image

verb · CEFR B1

to show an image of something on a surface like water or glass.

For teachers: to reflect an image of something on a surface. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The still water of the lake mirrored the mountains perfectly.
- The glass facade of the skyscraper mirrored the shifting clouds, creating a dynamic visual effect that changed with the weather.

### 5. to match or imitate

verb · CEFR B2

to be very similar to something else or to copy someone's behavior.

For teachers: to correspond to or represent something else in a very similar way; to imitate a pattern or behavior closely.

- The child's movements mirrored his father's as they walked together.
- The company's recent decline in profits mirrors a broader trend across the entire manufacturing sector this quarter.

## Examples

- I looked in the mirror to fix my tie.
- The bathroom mirror was so foggy after the shower that I couldn't see my face.
- The architect used a large wall mirror to create the illusion of a much larger living space in the small apartment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.