Meaning & use
mirroring
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“mirroring” is a form of “mirror”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
The act of copying another person's gestures, speech, or behavior, often without realizing it.
Grammar: Used as a singular mass noun: 'Mirroring builds rapport.' It is not usually plural.
Patterns
- mirroring of something
- unconscious mirroring
- behavioral mirroring
The therapist noticed mirroring in the way the client crossed her legs at the same moment.
Mirroring can help people feel understood during a conversation.
His mirroring of her accent was so subtle that neither of them noticed it.
noununcountablecomputing
In computing, the process of storing an exact copy of data on a second disk or server for safety.
Grammar: Often used in technical phrases like 'disk mirroring' or 'data mirroring'.
Patterns
- disk mirroring
- data mirroring
- mirroring of data
Disk mirroring protects your files if one hard drive fails.
The company uses server mirroring to keep its website online during outages.
Data mirroring is a common backup strategy in large networks.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Present participle of 'mirror': copying or reflecting something exactly.
Grammar: As a verb form, it takes an object when transitive: 'She is mirroring his actions.' It can also be intransitive: 'The two systems are mirroring each other.'
Patterns
- mirroring someone
- mirroring something
- mirroring each other
The child is mirroring his father's gestures without knowing it.
The two databases are mirroring each other in real time.
She was mirroring the teacher's pronunciation to improve her accent.
Word forms
| third person singular | mirrors |
|---|---|
| past tense | mirrored |
| past participle | mirrored |
| -ing form | mirroring |
Common combinations
- unconscious mirroring
- Unconscious mirroring often happens when two people are getting along well.
- mirroring behavior
- Mirroring behavior can be a sign of empathy.
- disk mirroring
- Disk mirroring keeps a backup copy of all your data.
- mirroring technique
- Salespeople sometimes use a mirroring technique to build trust.
Synonyms and how they differ
- imitation
- Imitation is a broader term for copying; mirroring often suggests an automatic, subtle copy of another person's actions.
- copying
- Copying is more general and can be deliberate; mirroring is usually unintentional or used in psychology.
- reflection
- Reflection is used for light or images; mirroring is used for behavior or data.
Word family
Commonly confused: mirroring or mimicking?
mirroring vs mimicking
Mimicking is often deliberate and can be mocking; mirroring is usually unconscious and can build rapport.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'mirroring' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 uses 'mirroring' as a present participle for unconscious imitation. Option 1 is missing 'was' or 'is'. Option 2 uses 'mirroring' as a physical object, which is wrong. Option 3 has incorrect grammar and meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mirroring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.