refraction
n. uncountable C1 Advanced UK //ɹɪfɹˈækʃən// re·frac·tion
n. the way light or sound changes direction when it moves from one material to another. This is why a straw in a glass of water looks bent.
n. the deviation of a wave, such as light or sound, from a straight path when it passes from one medium to another. Often involves a change in the wave's speed and wavelength.
The refraction of light makes the pool look shallower than it is.
When the sun sets, the refraction of its light through the atmosphere creates the colorful display of red and orange.
The lens in the human eye uses the principle of refraction to focus incoming light onto the retina, allowing the brain to process visual information clearly.
Borrowed from Latin refrāctiō.