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refraction

re·frac·tion
R r

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [ri-frak-shuh n]
    • /rɪˈfræk ʃən/
    • /rɪˈfrækt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ri-frak-shuh n]
    • /rɪˈfræk ʃən/

Definitions of refraction word

  • noun refraction Physics. the change of direction of a ray of light, sound, heat, or the like, in passing obliquely from one medium into another in which its wave velocity is different. 1
  • noun refraction Ophthalmology. the ability of the eye to refract light that enters it so as to form an image on the retina. the determining of the refractive condition of the eye. 1
  • noun refraction Astronomy. Also called astronomical refraction. the amount, in angular measure, by which the altitude of a celestial body is increased by the refraction of its light in the earth's atmosphere, being zero at the zenith and a maximum at the horizon. the observed altered location, as seen from the earth, of another planet or the like due to diffraction by the atmosphere. 1
  • noun refraction the change in direction of a propagating wave, such as light or sound, in passing from one medium to another in which it has a different velocity 0
  • noun refraction the amount by which a wave is refracted 0
  • noun refraction the ability of the eye to refract light 0

Information block about the term

Origin of refraction

First appearance:

before 1570
One of the 33% oldest English words
First recorded in 1570-80, refraction is from the Late Latin word refrāctiōn- (stem of refrāctiō). See refract, -ion

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Refraction

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

refraction popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 71% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

refraction usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for refraction

noun refraction

  • deflection — The deflection of something means making it change direction.

Top questions with refraction

  • what is refraction?
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  • what is refraction in science?
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  • what is refraction of light?
  • what is the index of refraction?
  • when does refraction occur?
  • what is the difference between reflection and refraction?
  • how does reflection differ from refraction and diffraction?
  • how to find angle of refraction?

See also

Matching words

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