ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reflection

n. C / U
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ɹɪˈfɫɛkʃən// UK //ɹɪflˈɛkʃən// re·flec·tion

n. the image you see in a mirror or on a shiny surface. It can also mean thinking deeply and carefully about something that happened in the past.

n. the return of light, heat, or sound after striking a surface; also the process of deep, analytical thought regarding past experiences or concepts.


SIMPLE

She looked at her reflection in the window.

CONTEXTUAL

After the project ended, the team spent an hour in quiet reflection to discuss what they had learned.

COMPLEX

The clear mountain lake provided a perfect reflection of the surrounding peaks, while the silence of the valley encouraged a moment of profound personal reflection.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French reflexion, reflection, and its source Late Latin reflexio, from the participle stem of reflectō. The current spelling is influenced by reflect. Equivalent to reflect + -ion.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the process of thinking; countable when referring to an image in a mirror or a specific written thought.

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