reflection — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. The property of a propagated wave being thrown back from a surface (such as a mirror).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. Something, such as an image, that is reflected.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The dog barked at his own reflection in the mirror.

   A body of black that carried no reflection.

4. Careful thought or consideration.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   After careful reflection, I have decided not to vote for that proposition.

   More examples (1)

   But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.

5. A representative manifestation or outcome of a condition, trend or trait.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Our recent results are a reflection of the progress we've made as a team.

   Zuckerberg said last month that the name change was a reflection of how much Facebook had evolved.

6. A representative manifestation or outcome of a condition, trend or trait. Used to make an implied criticism.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable
   • followed by on

   Examples

   It is a reflection on his character that he never came back to see them.

7. The process or mechanism of determining the capabilities of an object at run-time.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   DynamicMBeanFacade uses Java's reflection API to introspect the managed resource and discover data type information for attributes.

8. The folding of a part; a fold.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. a calm, lengthy, intent consideration

   Synonyms

   contemplationreflexionruminationmusingthoughtfulness

   Broader terms

   consideration

2. the phenomenon of a propagating wave (light or sound) being thrown back from a surface

   Synonyms

   reflexion

   Broader terms

   physical phenomenon

3. expression without words

   Synonyms

   expressionmanifestationreflexion

   Broader terms

   demonstrationdemo

   Examples

   tears are an expression of grief

   the pulse is a reflection of the heart's condition

4. a likeness in which left and right are reversed

   Synonyms

   mirror imagereflexion

   Broader terms

   likenessalikenesssimilitude

5. the image of something as reflected by a mirror (or other reflective material)

   Synonyms

   reflexion

   Broader terms

   pictureimageiconikon

   Examples

   he studied his reflection in the mirror

6. (mathematics) a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed

   Broader terms

   transformation

7. a remark expressing careful consideration

   Synonyms

   observationreflexion

   Broader terms

   remarkcommentinput

8. the ability to reflect beams or rays

   Synonyms

   reflexionreflectivity

   Broader terms

   physical property