refract
Bend through media
To refract is to bend light or other waves as they pass from one medium to another—from air into water, for instance, or through a prism.
A straw in a glass of water appears bent because light refracts at the surface.
The noun is refraction: the refraction of sunlight through raindrops creates rainbows.
Figuratively, to refract something is to alter or distort it through a particular lens or perspective: Her memoir refracts childhood memories through adult understanding.
Light-splitting optical element
- dispersionScattering across space
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
- incidenceRate of occurrence
- indexAlphabetical guide to contents
medium · interface · ray · wavelength · light · optical · transmission · wavefront
Refracted light arc
- colorsVisual spectrum variations
- violetSmall five-petaled wildflower
- indigoPlant-derived blue dye
- bluePrimary color; also sad
green · yellow · orange · red · chromatic · dispersion · wavelength · hue
Curve or flex
- warpBend from true form
- distortTwist from original form
- deflectTurn from course
- skewTwist from straight
shimmer · mirage · illusion · underwater · pool · heatwave · atmospheric · aberration
Attitude or spatial rendering
- reinterpretUnderstand in another way
- transformChange completely in form
- filterPorous separation device
- reshapeGive different form
reframe · redirect · alter · shift · mediate · lens · viewpoint · perception
Corrective lenses worn
- correctiveDesigned to remedy flaws
- focusConcentrated attention point
- microscopeInstrument for viewing minute objects
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
binoculars · optometry · vision · ocular · diopter · bifocal · trifocal · progressive
prism
Light-splitting optical element
- dispersionScattering across space
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
- incidenceRate of occurrence
index · medium · interface · ray · wavelength · light · optical · transmission · wavefront · propagation
rainbow
Refracted light arc
blue · green · yellow · orange · red · chromatic · dispersion · wavelength · hue · separation
bend
Curve or flex
skew · shimmer · mirage · illusion · underwater · pool · heatwave · atmospheric · aberration
perspective
Attitude or spatial rendering
- reinterpretUnderstand in another way
- transformChange completely in form
- filterPorous separation device
reshape · reframe · redirect · alter · shift · mediate · lens · viewpoint · perception · nuance
eyeglasses
Corrective lenses worn
- correctiveDesigned to remedy flaws
- focusConcentrated attention point
- microscopeInstrument for viewing minute objects
telescope · binoculars · optometry · vision · ocular · diopter · bifocal · trifocal · progressive · magnification
- double refractionLight splits into two paths
- refracted lightIllumination bent by medium
- light refractionBending of waves through media
- refracting telescopeLens-based astronomical instrument
- refractory periodInterval blocking repeated activation
- refractive errorOptical focusing abnormality
refractory, refraction, refracting, refracted, refractive, refracts, refractoriness, refractor, refractors