Definitions for refract
rɪˈfræktre·fract

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. refractverb

   subject to refraction

   "refract a light beam"

2. refractverb

   determine the refracting power of (a lens)

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. refractverb

   To change direction as a result of entering a different medium

2. refractverb

   (Optics) To cause (light) to change direction as a result of entering a different medium.

   A prism can refract light.

3. Etymology: * From refractum, the neutralal inflection of refractus, the past participle of refringere, itself from re- 'again' + frangere 'to break'.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To REFRACTverb

   To break the natural course of rays.

   Etymology: refractus, Lat.

   If its angle of incidence be large, and the refractive power of the medium not very strong to throw it far from the perpendicular, it will be refracted. George Cheyne, Phil. Princ.

   Rays of light are urged by the refracting media. George Cheyne.

   Refracted from yon eastern cloud,
   The grand ethereal bow shoots up. James Thomson.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Refract

   In physics, refraction is the redirection of a wave as it passes from one medium to another. The redirection can be caused by the wave's change in speed or by a change in the medium. Refraction of light is the most commonly observed phenomenon, but other waves such as sound waves and water waves also experience refraction. How much a wave is refracted is determined by the change in wave speed and the initial direction of wave propagation relative to the direction of change in speed. For light, refraction follows Snell's law, which states that, for a given pair of media, the ratio of the sines of the angle of incidence θ1 and angle of refraction θ2 is equal to the ratio of phase velocities (v1 / v2) in the two media, or equivalently, to the refractive indices (n2 / n1) of the two media. sin ⁡ θ 1 sin ⁡ θ 2 = v 1 v 2 = n 2 n 1 {\displaystyle {\frac {\sin \theta _{1}}{\sin \theta _{2}}}={\frac {v_{1}}{v_{2}}}={\frac {n_{2}}{n_{1}}}} Optical prisms and lenses use refraction to redirect light, as does the human eye. The refractive index of materials varies with the wavelength of light, and thus the angle of the refraction also varies correspondingly. This is called dispersion and causes prisms and rainbows to divide white light into its constituent spectral colors.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. refract

   To refract means to make light or sound waves change direction when they enter at an angle, usually moving from one medium to another. This change in direction often results in the splitting of light into its various colors, illustrated by the rainbow effect when light passes through a prism.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Refractnoun

   to bend sharply and abruptly back; to break off

2. Refractnoun

   to break the natural course of, as rays of light orr heat, when passing from one transparent medium to another of different density; to cause to deviate from a direct course by an action distinct from reflection; as, a dense medium refrcts the rays of light as they pass into it from a rare medium

3. Etymology: [L. refractus, p. p. of refringere; pref. re- re- + frangere to break: cf. F. rfracter. SEe FRacture, and cf. Refrain, n.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Refract

   rē-frakt′, v.t. to break back or open: to break the natural course, or bend from a direct line, as rays of light, &c.—adj. Rēfrac′table.—p.adjs. Rēfrac′ted, turned out of its straight course, as a ray of light: (bot., &c.) bent back at an acute angle; Rēfrac′ting, serving or tending to refract: refractive.—n. Rēfrac′tion, the act of refracting: the change in the direction of a ray of light, heat, &c., when it enters a different medium.—adj. Rēfrac′tive, refracting: pertaining to refraction.—ns. Rēfrac′tiveness; Rēfractiv′ity; Rēfractom′eter, an instrument for measuring the refractive power of different substances; Rēfrac′tor, a refracting telescope.—Angle of refraction, the angle between a perpendicular and a ray of light after its change of direction, bearing a constant ratio to the sine of the angle of incidence—the index of refraction; Astronomical, or Atmospheric, refraction, the apparent angular elevation of the heavenly bodies above their true places, caused by the refraction of the rays of light in their passage through the earth's atmosphere; Double refraction, the separation of an incident ray of light into two refracted rays, polarised in perpendicular planes. [L. refringĕre, refractum—re-, back, frangĕre, to break.]

Matched Categories

1. • Determine
   • Optics
   • Subject

Anagrams for refract »

1. crafter

How to pronounce refract?

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Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of refract in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of refract in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=refract
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Refract
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=refract
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refract
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refract
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=refract