Word
refraction
Phoneticsre·frac·tion
UK/ɹɪfɹˈækʃən/
Definition
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.
Examples
“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.”
Examples
simple
“The refraction of light makes the pool look shallower than it is.”
contextual
“When the sun sets, the refraction of its light through the atmosphere creates the colorful display of red and orange.”
complex
“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.”
Real-World Examples
“Because of light refraction - light being bent by the atmosphere - there is still light for a time when the Sun is not directly visible.” “A biometer was used to measure the eye shape and axial length, while an autorefractor monitored changes in refraction over time.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin refrāctiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/refraction