Meaning & use
mirror
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Meanings
nouncountable
A piece of glass with a shiny back that shows a clear image of whatever is in front of it.
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' or in the plural: a mirror, two mirrors.
Patterns
- look in the mirror
- a mirror on the wall
She checked her hair in the mirror before the interview.
The bathroom has a large mirror above the sink.
He accidentally broke the mirror while cleaning.
verbtransitive
To be very similar to something or to show the same qualities as something else.
Grammar: Takes an object: The book mirrors society. Often used in the passive: The changes are mirrored in other countries.
Patterns
- mirror something
- be mirrored in something
The film mirrors the struggles of ordinary families.
Her calm tone mirrored her confidence.
These trends are mirrored across the whole region.
Word forms
| plural | mirrors |
|---|---|
| third person singular | mirrors |
| past tense | mirrored |
| past participle | mirrored |
| -ing form | mirroring |
Common combinations
- rearview mirror
- Always check your rearview mirror before changing lanes.
- mirror image
- The two brothers are mirror images of each other.
- look in the mirror
- He looked in the mirror and adjusted his tie.
- mirror something exactly
- The copy mirrors the original exactly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- looking glass
- Looking glass is an old-fashioned or literary term for a mirror; it is not used in everyday modern English.
- reflect
- As a verb, reflect means to throw back light or an image; mirror is stronger and means to copy or show a close similarity.
Word family
Practice
The novel ______ the political events of that decade.
Choose one answer.
The subject 'novel' is singular, so the verb needs the third person singular form 'mirrors'. 'Mirror' is the base form and would not agree; 'mirroring' is a participle and cannot be the main verb here; 'mirrored' is past tense and would not fit the present context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mirror”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.