Meaning & use
refraction
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Meanings
noununcountablephysicstechnical
The change in direction of light or another wave when it passes from one material into another.
Grammar: Uncountable in general use; countable only when talking about a particular instance, as in 'a refraction of 30 degrees'.
Patterns
- refraction of light
- atmospheric refraction
- cause refraction
Refraction makes a straw look bent when it stands in a glass of water.
Scientists measured the refraction of light as it passed through the glass block.
Atmospheric refraction can make the sun appear above the horizon before it actually rises.
noununcountablemedical
The measurement of the eye's ability to focus light, used to check vision and prescribe glasses.
Grammar: A medical use, often in the phrase 'refraction test'; it is uncountable in this sense.
Patterns
- refraction test
- a refraction examination
The optician performed a refraction test to find the right lens strength.
After refraction, the doctor prescribed stronger glasses.
Word forms
| plural | refractions |
|---|
Common combinations
- the refraction of light
- The refraction of light through a prism creates a rainbow.
- atmospheric refraction
- Atmospheric refraction bends starlight near the horizon.
- angle of refraction
- The angle of refraction depends on the two materials involved.
- refraction test
- She had a refraction test before choosing new glasses.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bending
- Bending is the everyday word for any curve in a path; refraction is the specific scientific term for a wave changing direction between materials.
Word family
Commonly confused: refraction or reflection?
refraction vs reflection
Reflection is when light bounces off a surface, like in a mirror; refraction is when light bends as it passes through a material.
Practice
The apparent bending of a pencil in a glass of water is caused by ______.
Choose one answer.
'Refraction' is the bending of light as it moves from water into air, which makes the pencil look broken. 'Reflection' would send the light back from the surface, 'diffusion' scatters light in many directions, and 'absorption' takes light into the material without bending it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “refraction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.