refract
verbEtymology From Latin refrāctum, neuter form of refrāctus, the past participle of refringō, itself from re- (“again”) + frangō (“to break”).
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Of a medium, substance, object, etc.: to deflect the course of (light rays), esp. when they enter the medium, etc., at an oblique angle; to cause refraction of (light, other electromagnetic radiation, or sound or other wave phenomena).
Figuratively To mediate; to alter; to distort.
Engineering, Natural sciences, Optics, Physical sciences, Physics To cause (light) to change direction as a result of entering a different medium.
Medicine, Ophthalmology, Sciences To measure, and often also to correct with lenses, the refractive error of (an eye) or the eyes of (a person).
- A prism can refract light.
- Derived terms
- nonrefracting, refractable, refracting, refracting telescope, refractometer, refractometric, refractometry, refractor, unrefracting
- Related terms
- refraction, refractive, refractory, refrangible, refringent, reflect